KidNey Health, Bone Health, and Breaking through fear this winter

When you look outside, you might see snow-covered landscapes and feel the biting cold. Everything seems frozen and still. I noticed this just this morning while taking my dog for a walk. It was freezing, but of course, she didn’t mind—being part Husky, she loves the cold! Yet, beyond this frozen exterior, winter is a season of rebirth, regeneration, and deep reflection. It’s an opportunity to turn inward, recreate yourself, and prepare for new beginnings.

As we approach 2025 (can you believe it?), I feel a powerful pull to reflect on who I want to be and what I want to create in the coming year. And that brings me to some simple yet profound questions for you:

• Who do you want to be in 2025?
• What kind of energy do you want to contribute to the collective field?

Many of us feel unsettled by the state of the world—politics, economics, wars, and other global events. These challenges can weigh heavily on us. 
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In addition to these external factors affecting our emotions, many people are experiencing a heightened sense of fear these days. From a five-element theory perspective in Chinese medicine, winter is associated with processing fear, while also being connected to the organ systems of the kidneys and the bones. The kidney and bone organ systems are key to your

overall vitality, and this season offers a unique opportunity to nurture them and transform feelings of fear that may be holding you back from achieving what you desire. 

The good news is, all we are experiencing emotionally as a collective is perfectly timed and aligned with the season. Rest in knowing, that if you have felt more unsettled or recognized more fearful moments, that you are not alone and in fact you are more deeply connected with your natural rhythms and the greater unity of this existence. 
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Moving through this season can also be uncomfortable, so  here are a few simple ways to nurture and support yourself this winter season: 

1. Aduki (adzuki) Beans: Yes, they’re a real thing! These beans are simple to prepare and incredibly nourishing for your kidneys, especially during winter.
2. Ginger Compresses: A warm ginger compress applied to your abdomen can rejuvenate your gut and support your blood, which is deeply connected to your kidneys. Here is the recipe I use and follow to create a  Ginger Compress.
3. Lean into the Fear: Using tools like breathing techniques, meditation, and calming practices can help you navigate through fear. Somato Respiratory Integration (SRI), is one calming technique we use in the office. Here is a guided SRI video to help you center and calm when leaning into fear.  In my experience, while it’s not easy, there’s always more love and peace waiting on the other side. 

Connecting the Dots: Your Nervous System and Winter’s Gifts
You might be wondering: What does all of this have to do with Network Spinal and holistic chiropractic care? Great question! 
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The connecting piece for me is your nervous system. It’s fundamental and links all of these concepts together. Without a sense of safety in your nervous system, it’s hard to fully embrace winter’s gifts of rebirth, healing, and growth. Whether it’s through network care, functional medicine, or the wisdom of five-element Chinese medicine, the goal is the same: to help you find safety and balance in your system so you can step into a bigger, grander, and more perfect expression of who you truly are.

By utilizing the above methods and leaning into the unsettling feelings of fear, you are taking back your power and no longer allowing fear to hold you back. Instead you embrace it as an energy source and use it as a doorway to breakthrough barriers and transform your reality. Rest assured that everything in nature aligns during this season to motivate and pull you through that process.

An Invitation to Transformation
​This is my invitation to you: take this time of year to slow down, reflect, and nurture your body-mind connection. Tune into your unique process and explore the deeper parts of yourself that are ripe for transformation. The winter solstice, the season of winter, and the coming of a new year offer the perfect backdrop for this work.
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For me, my personal goal for 2025 is to project love and compassion into the collective field. That’s something I can control and something I can contribute to making the world a better place. What about you? Who do you want to be, and what do you want to create in the year ahead?

Let’s embrace this season of rebirth together. I’ll see you in the office, ready to support you on your journey. Here’s to a transformative winter and an amazing year ahead!