Just tired

I’m tired this morning. I woke up at four and wasn’t able to get back to sleep. This has been happening more and more lately and it makes for some really long days. Days when your eyes feel full of grit and your nerves are jangled from too much coffee, taken in an effort to keep moving. Days when you feel like everything is too much effort. Normally, yoga is the first thing I do in the morning while a cup of herbal tea or hot water and lemon steep. Not today.

I finally hit the mat after being awake for four hours. Quickly got dizzy doing sun salutes so I dialed it back and eased into a bunch of twisting poses. Slowly, mindfully. Added some hip openers. Oh, it felt so good. Finished off in Savasana (or corpse pose) for 5 minutes. I almost fell asleep! I can’t say I’m an energizer bunny now but I feel calmer and not quite so tired.

Days like today are good days to putter around the house. Lighting candles and diffusing essential oils. Clearing some cobwebs and making cozy corners. Curling up with a blanket, cup of tea and a book. (I’m currently reading my way through “A Year Between Friends: 3191 miles apart” by Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stepahnie Congdon Barnes) In other words, embracing hygge.

A good chai tea is always comforting and what I’ve got in my cupboard right now is an easy powdered blend that’s great to have on hand. It’s from one of my favourite herbal books called “The Healing Kitchen” by Holly Bellebuono. It aids both digestion and the nervous system. It also supports the immune and endocrine system.

Ashwagandha Chai

For the blend:

8 ounces ashwagandha powder

2 tablespoons ground cardamom

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground ginger

To make the blend, mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Transfer to a glass jar, cap and label. Store in cupboard.

For the beverage:

1 cup of milk (I use coconut or almond milk)

1 teaspoon Ashwagandha Chai Blend

A few drops of maple syrup

Warm the milk in a small saucepan, covered, over low heat. Add 1 teaspoon of chai blend and simmer gently over very low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into a mug and stir in maple syrup. Enjoy!

I’ll be making some chamomile body wash today. Chamomile is soothing when you’re feeling overly tired and at the same time, uplifting. This body wash is gentle on the skin, an important factor at this time of year.

Chamomile Body Wash

5 drops chamomile essential oil

1 teaspoon almond oil

1 16-ounce bottle of castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s unscented)

3 drops of citrus or peppermint essential oil or other (optional)

To make:

Add the chamomile essential oil and almond oil to the bottle of soap. Add an optional oil if desired. Shake it really well.

This is super easy to make. If you find castile soap drying, put the soap in a foaming pump bottle. Fill it 1/3 with soap and 2/3 full of water. Screw on the pump top and give it a good shake.

Chamomile essential is great if you’re feeling anxious, have a headache or insomnia. A few drops in your bath, a drop massaged on your temples or a sniff of the open bottle. It can all help. Chamomile is a great tool in your aromatherapy arsenal. It has anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, calming and tonic properties. There’s lots to love! One caveat though: if you have a ragweed allergy, chamomile can cause a reaction.

I’ve got Godiva chocolate ready for later today and a friend coming over. Tired or not it’ll be a good day!