This winter has been the germiest, sickest and longest cold and flu season I can remember (and we are only half way through it!). I used to be the first to go down when sickness was around – being fit doesn’t necessarily mean being healthy and I was definitely the former and not the latter.

Now that I have a bit more experience on my side, and a lot more yoga practice, I am able to listen to my body and respect what it needs. If we can give our bodies what they require in the form of nutrition, good quality water, fresh air and regular exercise, our bodies in return will deliver us good health and a strong immunity against sickness.

When you feel a cold or flu beginning to take hold what do you do? Lay on the couch and eat comfort food in front of the box? Go and do a workout telling yourself you will “sweat it out”? I know I have done both, without positive results.

When it comes to good health, prevention is better than cure, and unfortunately not all illness can be avoided. I’m of course no expert, I only can share what works for me and that is a consistently good lifestyle, a practitioner-only multi-vitamin, olive leaf extract 3 times a day through winter and, if I feel I’m getting sick, finally listening to and respecting the signals of my body.

When I wake up with a sore throat I will go for a walk instead of a run, eat organic fresh whole foods for the day, drink herbal teas and warm ginger and lemon waters, and do some relaxation and pranayama before bed that night.

Honestly it doesn’t always work, but 75% of the time it will and hey, it can’t hurt!

Start to take note of the people around you – who are the ones that are consistently sick and what sort of a lifestyle do they lead? In the end we need to take some responsibility for our health and in doing so we will lead happier more fulfilling lives.