5 Ways to Bring Joy into the Dark of Winter

It’s February, ya’ll. We’re in the dark of winter and I think we all want a little more joy to get us through. Here are a few simple ideas to bring in the joy during a season that’s so difficult for many of us.

1. Put on your favorite song and dance around the room.

2. Get some sunshine on your face. Even if it’s cold, bundle up and let those rays land on your skin.

3. Curl up with a good book with your favorite warm drink.

4. Plan a trip (seriously, it’s been shown that the act of planning and booking travel is a significant part of the joy of travel. We all need things to look forward to!)

5. Take a warm bath with Epsom salts and a few drops of essential oils.

Use these suggestions to spike your curiosity about things that could bring you joy during winter. If you think of others (and you should!), share them with me on Instagram (@rooted_wellness_and_pilates) or email me at rooted.cville@gmail.com.

10 Ways to Nourish Yourself During Cold Winter Months

I’m not a huge fan of winter. Darkness and cold aren’t my favorites, but I do value this season for a time of rest and restoration and a perfect time to focus on nourishment for body and soul.

Additionally, I lost my sweet 17-year-old pup on New Years Eve, and I’m feeling the need to focus more on gently caring for myself. I thought I’d share a few ways I’m going to nourish myself this winter, and I invite you to join me in any that sound nourishing and supportive for your body.

1. Drink less coffee. Over the holidays, I ramped up my coffee intake, and I know I feel better when I have less. So I’m going to slowly decrease while increasing herbal teas and other warming beverages.

2. Drink less alcohol. Same as with coffee, alcohol consumption increased over the holidays and I know I sleep better when I have less.

3. Eat soup! With the cold weather, I’ve really been craving warm, creamy soups and stews so I’m going to make all my favorites and try a few new ones as well.

4. Increase the foods I know make me feel my best and reduce the ones I know don’t. It’s taken me years to get clear with this, and it can take some time and experimenting to figure it out. If you’re interested and if you’d like some support with this, book a health coaching session! Everyone is unique, and what feels best for your body changes with the seasons and seasons of your life.

5. Rest and nap as much as my body is craving. I’ve started the new year feeling tired, and I’m going to listen to that and rest and sleep!

6. Regular massage! I really benefit from massage and bodywork, but I let that slip because of Covid and I really miss it. Thankfully, an amazing massage therapist works in my building, which makes it even easier to schedule into my weeks. There’s many great massage therapists in Charlottesville, but if you’re looking for one, Melissa is wonderful and I’m including her website and scheduling information here.

7. Move consistently! Walking the dog helps! As does teaching mat Pilates class twice a week. I’m going to add in regular reformer workouts this winter. Want to join me for regular mat classes? Sign up here. Reformer sessions are also available to book in my very small and as Covid safe as possible studio!

8. Read! I love to read, and I’m going to spend more time reading books purely for pleasure this winter. Please feel free to pass along your favorites!

9. Work with a somatic practitioner biweekly. This has been the absolute BEST thing that I’ve done for myself the last few years, and I can’t recommend learning about and supporting your nervous system enough. I practice what I preach and care for myself in this way regularly. If you’re interested you can learn more here.

10. Be kind to myself and know that more actionable goals will be easier to implement in the spring!

Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies (Because Everyone Needs a Cookie for the Holidays)

Thumbprint cookies are my favorite! You can use different jams and preserves to create different flavors and colors. I used a no-sugar added raspberry jam for the ones pictured above. These simple cookies are a tasty holiday treat that are also low sugar and gluten free!

Ingredients:

6 TBSP unsalted butter

1/3 cup light-colored raw honey

1/4 TSP vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

Unsweetened coconut or sliced almonds (optional)

1/4 cup fruit sweetened jam

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a handheld mixer, beat together the butter, honey, and vanilla on medium-high for 1 minute. WIth mixer on low, add almond and coconut flours and mix until just combined.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on backing sheet. If desired, you can roll the dough balls in shredded coconut or sliced almonds.

Using the round end of a wooden spoon (or your finger), gently press into the center of each ball, making an indentation about 1/2 inch wide and 1 inch deep. Spoon about 1 tsp jam into each indentation.

Bake the cookies for 15-17 minutes, until golden. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely

This Chicken Chili Verde Is How You Tomatillo

When I bought the tomatillos for this dish at Whole Foods, the cashier looked at the little bundle of fruit wrapped in their papery husks, and said, “What the heck are those things?” It’s true that tomatillos are one of the forgotten gems of the produce section, which is too bad because they’re delicious and different. If you’ve ever wondered how to cook with tomatillos, this chicken chili verde is a fall weather favorite around our house. You can eat it as-is like a stew, put it on rice or even use it to top a dish like baked enchiladas. It’s easy peasy to make and its pepper warmth is welcome as we have cooler weather.

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken thighs

8-10 tomatillos, stemmed, husked and quartered

5 medium poblano peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped

2-3 jalapeno peppers, stemmed and chopped (seeded if you like less spice)

1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1.5 teaspoons table salt

2 cups water or chicken broth

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup chopped cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Instructions:

Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat, cook onions until they are translucent and add tomatillos, poblanos, jalapenos, garlic and cook for 2 minutes.

Add salt, cumin and place chicken thighs on top of vegetables. Add about 2 cups of water or chicken broth, until chicken is just covered. Bring to a boil, turn to low medium heat, cover and cook for 45 minutes.

Remove chicken from pot and make sure it is cooked. If cooked, shred chicken and set aside. Use an immersion blender to blend ingredients in pot until fairly smooth. Add cilantro and lime juice, blend a bit more, add chicken and enjoy! As a variation, add a can of cannellini beans. This stew is also nice served over rice.

3 Tips for a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

As we enter the holiday season, we enter a time of year that for many of us also involves more stress. Navigating travel and extra commitments, consuming more sugar and alcohol, and working out less are all things that seem to happen during the holiday season. I fully support balance, which means enjoying the holiday (whatever that looks like for you) while also checking in with yourself to make sure you are taking time to care for yourself.

Here are 3 simple tips to cultivate more wellness this holiday season:

1. Notice your body. Check in by feeling your feet on the floor, or your hips in a chair. It sounds so simple, and yet this is my go to recommendation to build awareness and your ability to be in the present moment.

2. Move your body a little every day. You don’t need a lot of time for movement to be effective. Even a short walk, getting out of your chair, stretching, or doing one of your favorite Pilates exercises is a great way to experience movement in your body. Moving feels good and, usually, doing a few minutes will turn into more.

3. Make sure you’re drinking enough water! Sugar and alcohol can make us feel groggy, and so it is helpful to drink water to stay hydrated and support your body when you enjoy those extra holiday treats.

Add in these super simple tips and have a holiday season that feels jolly and bright inside and out.