health advice for transitioning into the cold seasons

Today the clouds and rain are here, and it leads me to reflect...
As late summer is peaking and transitioning towards fall, it is important for us to observe the changes in nature and reflect them in our own lives and habits. Late summer is a time of fullness, of stillness, of the harvest. Life has been outside, but it is getting ready to move inwards for the cold seasons. Yet it is still full, the fruits are ripe and ready to eat. It is a good time to clean up the yard, to take care of those unfinished projects, to reflect on what we have done over the past year, to enjoy the fruits of those labors, and to begin thinking about how we will approach the coming year.
The cold seasons provide time for inner work, for creative activities like the arts, for learning about new things, for reading, for indoor activities. So especially in the NW where it is such a long cold season, I think it is important to get outside as much as we can in these last few weeks of nice weather. This will help carry us through the rainy season.
This is also a time when animals in nature put on that extra layer of fat for the winter. We may not like this idea so much ourselves, but it is a natural part of the season- fruits and vegetables are plentiful, it is a good time for sharing group meals etc. So don't be too hard on yourself about it. Spring and summer are really the natural times to get active and try to lose weight, we are now getting into the seasons of more internal work.
    So take those walks, try to get up into the mountains if you can, take time to reflect, to enjoy the stillness, enjoy and give thanks for the abundance of fruits and vegies, and take in those last rays of sunshine!

welcome to my new blog!

Greetings and welcome to the Hillside Acupuncture and Healing Arts blog. I run an office/ healing center in Seattle, WA, USA dedicated to helping you get the most out of life. I specialize in acupuncture, East Asian Medicine (the new descriptor for Chinese medicine), and qi cultivation (i.e. exercising to build up our vital energy). This blog is meant to be a place to discuss any issues related to natural medicine, keeping ourselves healthy, and whatever else we deem relevant or worthwhile of a post:). I will try to post regular tips on how to stay in harmony with the seasons, so that our vitality can flourish and we can live a full, happy life. We all hit the rough spots, and sometimes we just need a little help or support to get back into the flow of life. Please feel free to contact me through the website (www.hillsideacupuncture.com ) if you have any particular questions or topics you would like me to address.

take care,
Keith Judelman, EAMP