The whole “shopping” thing gets overwhelming this time of year, doesn’t it? What keeps me cheery is knowing that Christmas and Hanukkah are opportunities to show love and appreciation for others by giving them something awesome. I try to align my gift giving with my own beliefs of wellness. I want my friends and family to stay well and be exposed to wellness, so I hope my presents are “good for you” but not boring. Here are some ideas for Holiday 2011:

1. The Splurge – A Weekend at Kripalu

2. Inspiration – Etsy art

3. If You Usually Give Wine Try This – High Quality Olive Oil

4. For Your Workout Buddies (or as Stocking Stuffers/Secret Santa) – Grace+Gusto DVD

5. For Sisters, Mothers and Daughters – This Must-Have Empowering Book!

We are half way through the Fall Fusion Workout series and fall is turning into winter fast! In case you haven’t noticed…the days are shorter and the temperatures are cooler. I encourage everyone to keep exercising in a variety of forms as often as you feel capable, but be sure to notice how your energy levels coincide with the seasons. Some changes are in order and our summer exercise ways may not be appropriate now. Here’s why:

Human beings are the opposite of nocturnal – we are diurnal. In other words, we should ALWAYS go with the sun. When it’s dark, we should be mellowing out. We don’t necessarily have to be sleeping, but our heart rates and energy exertion should wane as the sun sets. Because there are fewer daylight hours now we have a smaller window of time for our workouts. If we honor Mother Nature, a 7pm workout is not appropriate this time of year. My advice: move it to 4pm or skip it. (Yes, a fit pro is telling you to skip exercise!)

I was ignorant of this for much of my fitness life, teaching and training 6AM all year long. I wondered why it was so easy to make a 6am session in July – and it felt great. That same workout irritated me in the winter.  Going against the sun got me achy or sick. I realize now that my fitness schedule aimed to override the rhythm of nature, but nature is the boss. Just think, the exact same workout, same intensity level and same duration, but very different effects! If you want colds and flu and winter blues to pass you by this winter, the time of day you exercise should shift to accommodate Mother Nature.

Another thing to pay attention to is your body’s temperature. Be vigilant about staying warm. Exercise is a great way to stay warm and keep your lymph moving, helping circulation stay optimal. I’m a fan of hot water bottles and bulky sweaters. I’m a fan of Bikram yoga this time of year (not for summer). I’m a fan of saunas and hot oil massage treatments. Do what it takes to keep your toes and your nose toasty! Why? Because when you’re cold you get tight and energy can’t travel efficiently through your body. This causes muscle strain, false sense of both physical and mental fatigue and poor posture. Have you ever seen a ballerina practice? She strategically wears layer upon layer and only when she’s warm enough, starts to peel them off. She’s ultra tuned in to her deep tissue temperature every step of the way. As I said in class last week, “Thermal Underwear ain’t just for skiing”.

Yes, this time of year brings challenges but be sure to still get outside. The air is cleaner outdoors than indoors, and feeling a oneness with nature is still a part of being well. Just bundle up and go for a walk. Take your coffee break outside. Sit on your back porch when talking on the phone or ski (an all day outdoor excursion)! But when the moon rises, bid it all adieu and cozy up to the fire with a book or two.

I know I’m outside-the-box, but trust me when I say this is 21^st century fitness. It’s about you, not just living, but thriving.