Yin Yang 101
Summer is the most Yang time of year. Winter is the most Yin time of year.
YIN
I like to think of Yin as the Momma Bear to our essential body fluids. A few examples of body fluids include:
Lymphatic fluid - circulates white blood cells to rid our body of toxins and fight infection
Synovial fluid - reduces friction in joints, necessary to reduce inflammation and/or pain
Cerebrospinal fluid - protects our brain and supplies vital nutrients to our nervous system
Our essential body fluids are SUPER IMPORTANT! I hope this helps you understand why we need to nourish our Yin. And guess what - another benefit is hydrated & radiant skin!
With that being said, it’s important to nourish our Yin in moderation though— if we overdo it, we could get lazy, gain weight, lose interest in social interaction, etc...
🔻 Yin Nourishing Foods: rice, millet, barley, persimmon, pear, banana, beets, chlorella, spirulina, black beans, kidney beans, yogurt, eggs, oyster, duck, beef, pork…
🔻 Yin Nourishing Activities: sleeeeep, enjoy solitude, slow movements, basically anything that makes you feel chill— you get the idea!
YIN ENERGY
YANG
Yang is all about action and movement.
It’s also important to nourish our Yang in moderation— if we overdo it, we could have trouble sleeping, feel hyperactive (think manic mode!), have a difficult time relaxing, etc...
A lack of Yang can lead to laziness, weight gain, depression, etc.— so let’s do this!
🔹 Yang Nourishing Foods: walnuts, chestnuts, sesame seeds, ginger, cinnamon, oats, quinoa, sesame seed, parsnip, parsley, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, kale, garlic, citrus peel, dates, lamb…
🔹 Yang Nourishing Activities: dancing, jogging, vinyasa type yoga, going out for a crazy night with your friends, basically anything that makes you move your body!
YANG ENERGY
What are some of your fave Yin or Yang nourishing foods and/or activities? Any tips? Let us know in the comments!