Up & Up
Boosting immune system & positivity
Keep calm and stay kind is the mantra of the moment at La Maison Wellness.
The world is being shaken up and we all feel the tension building: the fear expanding all around. Uncertain times of crisis like right now are difficult, but this is when it’s even more important to remain calm & positive for yourself and others. We cannot control what is happening, but we CAN control our response to what is happening; and the way we react and the energy we put into this world has an impact not only on us, but on eachother and our community.
Sharing is caring, so here are La Maison Wellness’ tips to boost your immune system & your positivity:
Do your part
As a community it’s important to be responsible and do your part. This means staying home as much as possible for the time being, washing your hands and your clothes often and being mindful of minimalising the possibility of spreading the virus.
Let’s not let the panic take over but remain aware, conscious and responsible.
Kindness all around
Keep your heart and your mind open. Now more than ever, share your kindness! It’s easy to fall into negativity and forget others in times like this- perhaps by stockpiling goods as they vanish from the stores- but as a community and humanity we have to stay united. If you notice your behaviours or attitude changing, bring it back to the heart with love.
Daily Mindfulness
The stress level is high and this is impacting everything: our mood, the way we perceive things and react and above all our immunity.
The higher the stress the longer our body will remain in what is called “the Fight & Flight response”. Our natural & inherited response to danger, we can thank this quick-fire release of adrenaline for the survival of our ancestors; but it is obviously unhelpful in this situation! In this state the body neglects essential functions such as digestion, fertility & most importantly the immune system and was never designed for extended periods.
It’s one of our most ancient pre-programs and as such can be hard to fight! But this is a case of mind over matter.
1) Just a few moments of conscious breathing when we feel overwhelmed will stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, reduce stress & thereby fortify the immune system. Make them slow & deep… inhaling for the count of 4, exhaling for the count of 4
2) Sit for a few minutes at a convenient time of day & allow stillness to help process your feelings and emotions. Find a comfortable position: allow your eyes to close & focus on your breath, meditate with a mantra or simply send positive thoughts & love to yourself & the world!
These simple practices will give you the chance to support yourself by feeling more grounded and at ease, which will also help you to be a support for your loved ones.
Relax & Recharge
Stress & uncertainty are exhausting for body & mind so make sure you sleep enough! That might mean more than usual… Increase relaxing activities: such as yin yoga, meditation, book reading & down time. Take a hot bath & move away from the news on occasion- it can feed the panic. Feeling relaxed and recharged will boost your mood & immune system, making you feel grounded & more able to deal with the situation.
If your sleep gets affected by stress practice mindfulness with meditation and conscious breathing; as well as maybe incorporating things like lavender essential oil, magnesium supplements, cbd, or a calming tea blend in the evening.
Have a read of our blog post on sleep it may help too. (link)
Cleanliness
Its been said over and over but please keep washing your hands and using hand sanitiser! (You can make your own natural one). Avoid unnecessary contact, wash clothes you’ve worn outside and clean the air in your house as much as possible by opening your windows wide- at least once a day. You can also purify the air in your home with essential oils in a diffuser (Breathe, OnGuard and Purify from Doterra are great blends)
- “ The body is your temple” as B.K.S Iyengar said (and now more than ever!) it’s important to “keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in”
We don’t want your body to exhaust energy clearing toxins induced by an unbalanced diet but rather fight the good fight against viruses!
Eat clean; eat fresh; up your spices such as chili, turmeric (always combined with black pepper for bio availability), ginger, garlic; introduce more probiotic food into your diet (yogurt, kombucha, kimchi); eat protein; supplement vitamins C & D; and drink loads of water to help your body flush through. All of this will boost your immunity.
We would recommend being a mindful drinker now more than ever, as you don’t want your body to be coping with unnecessary toxins or a hangover, plus alcohol is obviously known to increase anxiety. That said if a quality natural glass of wine is calling you to unwind and relax it’s ok- just find moderation Healthy Hedonists!
Keep moving
Even if you are self isolating by staying at home, keep moving.
10 minutes of stretching when you wake (link here), an online yoga class (we are working on content for you on our YouTube channel but in the meantime check out yoga Glo, down dog, Alo moves also loads of teachers doing live classes on social media), blasting your favourite song and dancing your way around the house… whatever feels good to you!
Aaaand repeat… it will lift your mood & energy by releasing those precious endorphins into the body!
Stay Connected
Isolation doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected: reach out and support each other.
We don’t have to be physically in the same space to remain connected and strong as a community. Give your friends, your family, all your loved ones a call: maybe it’s Skype over a delicious mindful cocktail you made at home, or a phone call while having a cup of tea… Text your neighbours to make sure they are ok and don’t need anything & reach out to others so we all stay united.
We’ve got this healthy hedonists, we will get through it and we will learn and we will grow. Be sure not to let the panic take over & stay safe out there!
Keep calm & stay kind <3
Learn Mindful Cocktails
You’re isolating at home this is the time to learn how to make delicious Mindful Cocktails with our founder Camille Vidal!
Try this recipe for a delicious immune sytem booster