Change.

“I’m just shifting… I’m letting myself shift.”

(Brandi K.)

Nothing like the transition into fall to remind us of CHANGE!

Just like nature around us changes (the trees, the flowers, the veggie garden, the streams and rivers, the grass all undergo massive shifts right around now), so does our body. Our gut microbiome is busy adapting to the changing levels of light outside. The bacteria, fungi and parasite composition of our gut lining, our skin, our nasal and bronchial and vaginal mucosa are all changing and adapting to the changing levels of light (in particular ultraviolet B frequencies) in the environment. Yes, you read correctly, we do indeed have normal, baseline levels of all these critters in and on us! All the time!. We developed with them, as a result of them. In fact, over 90% of the DNA in us is not human. It is bacterial DNA. We exist thanks to our incredible, symbiotic relationship with the microbiome in and on and around us. We must tend to it. We mustn’t squash it. We must nourish it. We mustn’t abuse it.

Oftentimes, this level of “change” manifests as more frequent waking in the night, extra “itchiness” wherever and all over, mild gut issues, diarrhea, wonky pains, exacerbated everything (gut issues, joint pain, moodiness, respiratory issues, excess histamine presentations, etc.). And then there’s the “monkey brain”, as I like to call it - constant and flitting thoughts, ideas, creative ideas, heavy thoughts, worry, anxiousness, etc. The monkey brain loves to be active the most at night, in the wee hours.

Because everything is in flux, particularly around the equinoxes, that means we are too. Why not flow with this flux? Instead of worrying about any of the things listed in the previous paragraph, how would it feel to just flow with it? What if we change the way we think about “symptoms? What if, instead of something to suppress, to fix, to get rid of, we view symptoms as healing?

“Symptoms are actually your body’s sign to tell you it has already moved to a healing state. So then it is about how we can support the body through this experience as best we can.”

(Dr. Kelli Ritter)

What does “flowing with it” look like?

At it’s most essential and basic, it looks like BREATHING. When in pain, BREATHE. When stressed, BREATHE. Get into a hook-up (a.k.a. pretzel) and inhale through your nose, slowly. Then exhale. Repeat. When in doubt, BREATHE. At the stop light, in traffic, when looking at that sink full of dirty dishes, or that pile of laundry, or the work project that is so daunting right about now. BREATHE before going in to work with a patient/client. BREATHE right after that client/patient session is done. Breathe. As you’re walking, BREATHE.

Also at it’s most basic it looks like HYDRATION. Yes, I’m going there - roll your eyes if you must (join my kids in this reaction), your eyes will be fine. They won’t fall out.

• Drink clean, filtered water.

• Add a pinch of salt with each 2-cup chugging sesh.

• Get outside and ground.

• Soak up all the light of the sun. The more skin in the game, the better.

• Drink Water & Make Water.

Flowing with the flux also looks like GRATITUDE.

• Thank you, body, for the amazing work you do day in and day out to keep me alive and flourishing so I can enjoy life.

• Thank you, body, for always talking to me/with me. I know this all-over-itching is just me detoxing. If there’s anything in particular I can do to help with this, I’m open. Show me.

• Thank you, body… I know this lower back pain means energy that was once stuck is now working it’s way through and eventually out.

• Thank you body… I trust that these allergy symptoms will subside. It’s my body reminding me not so subtly to drink water.

• Thank you body… the sleepless nights are actually a gift. They won’t last forever. I have extra time to think and pray and ponder.

• I’m so grateful for my (family/husband/kids/friends)… I do have a purpose.

• I’m so grateful for my (job/hobbies/activities/responsibilities/projects)… I do have a purpose.

You get the gist.

“Nature never hurries, yet everything is accomplished”

(Lao Tzu)

Flowing with the flux also looks like MOVEMENT. In fact, flowing is movement! The pain, the anxiety, the itch, the gas, the constipation, the snot, the coughing, the migraine, the nocturnal wakefulness, the diurnal sluggishness, it’s all MOVEMENT! The body is moving stuff around. The body is reshuffling energy and information, proteins and hormones, blood, electrical impulses, etc. Stuff’s gotta move! The body knows. The problem arises when we equate presentations that are the result of movement with dis-eases (conditions that must be curbed, blocked, minimized, eliminated).

Let’s flip the old paradigm on it’s head! Let’s stop the fixing and the blocking, and the numbing and the worry. Let’s flow. Let’s allow. And remember, sometimes, the flow is a trickle. Slow. It may not seem like we’re accomplishing much at all. But don’t be fooled! So much happens below the surface! Just like a seed that takes a couple weeks before it sprouts.

You’re getting ready to BLOOM in a new way. In a new area. On a whole new level!

Stay the course.

If you’d like to learn more about Light Diets, Movement that truly nourishes and True Hydration, take a look at our offerings: