As I’m staring outside, a beautiful snowfall is gracing my world. Beautiful white flecks speckle the ground, touching the trees, homes and everyone all around me. It’s magical.
I love the purity of snow, its playfulness (especially with two children) and it’s beauty. However, I really struggle with staying warm. So I decided to do some research on the best tips to warm up.
Keep Warm in Cool Weather:
Everywhere I read talked about the importance of dressing in layers. So I started to wonder why? Well, air gets trapped between the layers keeping you warm. How many layers? The consensus seemed to be 3.
Layer 1:
This layer is close to your body and needs to keep your body warm and dry. Some of the recommendations were wool, polyester or silk. Silk? I thought that was only for cool weather. But I was happily wrong.
A fun fact that I discovered, silk is perfect for cold weather. It’s low conductivity keeps warm air closer to the skin. So wear silk long underwear (shirt and leggings are the perfect base layer) and of course if you’re not doing yoga buy a pair of silk socks, that you will wear under the wool ones.
Layer 2: Warm, warm, warm. This second layer is designed to keep you warm. Think fleece, fuzzy warm sweaters and anything that your kitten would love to curl up on and fall asleep on.
Layer 3: Stay dry and keep the wind at bay. Choose a waterproof breathable shell.
By the way, the layers apply to top and bottom. So make sure that if you outside for an extended period of time to wear long johns, warm fleece pants and breathable ski pants on top.
Bring a back pack.
Inside pack cold weather essentials:
- Mittens (warmer than gloves because your fingers are closer together)
- Socks
- Thermos filled with a warm beverage
- Snacks (protein and carbs)
- Water
- Chapstick
- Cream
- Sunscreen
- Room for extra layers that are removed when you are warm
Eat the Warm Weather Menu:
1) Keep your metabolism stable by eating several small meals throughout the day, instead of 3 main ones.
2) Eat local. Squash, Potato and other hearty vegetables are perfect for the cold weather climate.
3) Bring on the Spices. Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, chile powder and curry powder are naturally warming foods. Add these flavors to soups, stews and other dishes to boost up the warmth factor.
4) Drink lots of hydrating beverages. You are actually more at risk for dehydrating in the winter than in the summer. So drink lots of water, herbal teas and other juices to stay hydrated and keep healthy.
Are you warm yet? Perfect it’s time for Snowga!
Snowga is a fairly new trend that combines skiing and yoga. Developed by Anne Anderson, this class combines yoga postures, meditation, breathing and skiing. Sounds like the perfect way to get ready to play in the snow.
