Why this nutritionist wants you to bin the clock AND calendar for a happier and healthier life
With the Summer season nearing its end and Autumn about to fall into our laps, it’s time to embrace the seasons and prep our bodies and mind for what’s in store; with these simple to follow tips from Healthy Mays its easier than ever before.
“Autumn is one of my favourite seasons” nutritionist Mays Al-Ali comments. “Not only is it the season of harvest but it’s also a time of transition. With evidence of change starting to happen all around us – this change in season offers us the opportunity to do the same.”
Mays Al-Ali of Healthy Mays, a nutrition, yoga and wellness specialist who regularly transitions with the seasons comments that “in order to flow through life effortlessly and in harmony with the natural rhythms of the world we need to open our bodies and minds to the natural cycles of the seasons” and wants to encourage people to do the same and switch up their routines for the coming season.
“Transition is a natural part of life” Mays continues who stands by the process that “for millions of years we lived by the Earth’s natural rhythm, rather than the rigid schedule of the clock. If we wanted to know when to work, sleep or eat – we consulted the sky, the weather, our bodies – not some abstract number; by ignoring these age-old rhythms we’re actually missing out on a huge opportunity to build a healthier, more humane and more productive life.” Mays teaches her clients that in order to transition you need to allow the seasonal rhythms to not only nudge you into paying more attention to the world around you but also to find what is natural for you and allow those tendencies to save you from being a slave to a fixed routine and has put together a few of her tip tips to make that transition fall right into place.
Utilising her experience with Eastern practices combined with her knowledge of the modern world Mays understands that our bodies react differently throughout the seasons and encourages her nutrition patients to take extra care during this time. “Our lungs and intestines, which prefer the warmer climates can become sensitive as Autumn rears resulting in coughs, colds and runny noses as our bodies acclimatise to the cooler, dryer weather” she comments. “Make sure to hero the Autumn produce such as wild mushrooms, Brussel sprouts and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes for all their hearty and powerful anti-viral benefits and to offset drained energy by exercising in the morning to activate your metabolism and brighten your mood.”
The rest of Healthy May’s top tips for transitioning into the Autumn can be seen below:
– Stock Up – on supplements, fresh local and organic produce and plenty of filtered water. Our bodies react differently as the weather gets cooler so make sure to stay on top of seasonal bugs and viruses. Supplement with Zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin D to increase your mood and boost your immunity and include fibre-packed, potassium-rich produce [beets, apples and sweet potatoes] into your diet.
– Clear Out – it’s not just spring that needs a good clean. Start the season as you mean to go on by clearing out your cupboards, your closet and your mind and allow yourself the opportunity to start fresh as the months go on. Autumn is a time of harvest, and just as we may harvest the real things planted in our gardens it’s also important to harvest your efforts and intentions for your life path you may have set earlier in the year and just check in with them to make sure they are all aligned.
– Breathe Deep – Autumn is the Earth’s way of telling us to start slowing down, so take some time for yourself as this cycle starts forming. Your brain is at its best first thing in the morning, so try meditating as you wake up. Breathe in deeply for four, hold for three and let go for six and repeat for as many times as you feel necessary. Just remember to do so with intention and presence with each breath allowing the ribcage to expand and the chest to rise and fall.
– Sleep Well – as Summer fades, so does the sunlight – which can throw our body clocks out of whack. Try and keep the same routine you had throughout the previous season even if the light is different. Go to bed at the same time each night, ideally around 10 pm and try and get 7-8 hours sleep each night. Turn all electronic devices off at least two hours before bed and follow the same general routine each night to ease into a deep and meaningful sleep.
– Motivate Yourself – now that Summer is out of the way, the carefree season of enjoying life, it’s time to get serious. Autumn can be seen as a time of getting down to business and planning for the long winter months ahead and this presents us with the perfect opportunity to reassess our life at work and at home and find the best ways to help us reach our goals. Focus on what you want and then set in place some small and clear steps on how to achieve it, in bite-size manageable pieces.
Mays will then go on to teach her transitional clients in a more personalised manner, creating in-depth rebalanced and restorative programmes based on their individual goals and needs. Healthy Mays has just launched their brand-new programmes for Autumn 2019 which include: weight loss and fitness, nutritional and diet including improving gut health and dealing with chronic diseases through nutrition management, implementing lifestyle changes such as transitioning to plant-based eating, yoga, dealing with stress, finding a sense of wellbeing and so much more, starting from £150 for one consultation.
