Preparing Yourself and Your Clients for Seasonal Transition, by Jayney Goddard MSc, PG Dip Ed, FCMA, FRSM
As natural health practitioners, we’re acutely aware of the profound impact seasonal changes can have on our well-being. As autumn approaches, it’s crucial to not only prepare ourselves but also equip our clients with the knowledge and tools to navigate this transition smoothly. Let’s explore how we can embrace autumn’s wisdom to support our own health and that of our clients – and grow our practices too!
Understanding the Seasonal Impact on Immunity
As practitioners, we recognise that the shift to autumn can challenge our immune systems. The fluctuating temperatures and shorter days require more energy from our bodies to maintain balance. Additionally, increased time indoors can expose us to more circulating viruses.
It’s essential to educate our clients about these changes and provide strategies to bolster their immune defences. Over my four decades in practice, I know that an educated client is a loyal client!
Nutritional Strategies for Autumn
Emphasise the importance of seasonal nutrition to your clients. Autumn’s harvest offers a bounty of immune-boosting foods:
1. Beta-carotene rich foods: Pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots support immune function and skin health.
2. Root vegetables: Parsnips and beetroots provide grounding nourishment and antioxidants.
3. Warming spices: Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and garlic offer anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
Encourage clients to incorporate these foods into their diets.
Consider boosting your practice by offering seasonal recipe guides or cooking workshops to support their transition.
Hydration and Herbal Support
While hydration remains crucial, suggest a shift from cold drinks to warm herbal teas. Educate your clients about immune-supporting herbs like echinacea, elderberry, and astragalus. For practitioners trained in herbal medicine, consider creating custom blends for clients.
Introduce adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil to support stress management and overall resilience.
Always remind clients to consult with you as their qualified practitioner before starting new herbal regimens – if that falls within your sphere of expertise – if not please use The CMA site to refer your client to a qualified herbalist. Making referrals is a really powerful way of growing your practice – because, as we know, what goes around, comes around!
Rest and Rejuvenation Practices
As practitioners, we understand the vital role of rest in maintaining health. Educate clients about the importance of establishing consistent sleep routines as nights grow longer. Share techniques for creating effective bedtime rituals, such as:
1. Aromatherapy with calming essential oils like lavender
2. Gentle stretching or yoga sequences
3. Guided meditation or relaxation techniques
Consider offering workshops or creating resources on stress management techniques like deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery. These tools can be invaluable for both practitioners and clients during this transitional period.
Movement and Nature Connection
Advise your clients on ways that they can adapt their exercise routines for autumn. Recommend grounding, gentle exercises like yoga, tai chi, or mindful nature walks. For practitioners offering movement classes, consider tailoring your programs to reflect this seasonal shift.
Educate your clients about the benefits of nature connection during autumn. Share about practices like forest bathing and its positive impacts on stress reduction and immune function. You might even organise group forest bathing sessions for your clients, if this is already part of your professional skill set or reach out to CMA Members who offer Forest Bathing classes and courses.
Gut Health for Immune Support
As practitioners, we’re well-versed in the gut-immune connection. Share this knowledge with your clients, highlighting the importance of gut health during seasonal transitions. Recommend incorporating:
1. Probiotic-rich fermented foods
2. Prebiotic foods to nourish beneficial gut bacteria
3. Vegetable-based broths for gut healing and immune support – medicinal mushrooms have a huge role to play here. See my blog article from last week about the wonders of medicinal mushrooms – and my “Happy Soup” health-boosting recipe here.
Think about offering gut health workshops or creating informational resources for your clients – such as handouts, eBooks. Consider giving talks on this fascinating and topical theme to grow your practice.
Nurturing Emotional Well-being
Acknowledge the emotional aspects of seasonal transitions. Encourage your clients to embrace joy and connection during this time.
Suggest starting a gratitude practice (grab my Gratitude Journal here – and feel free to share it!)or engaging in creative pursuits as forms of self-care. As practitioners, we can lead by example, incorporating these practices into our own lives and sharing our experiences with clients.
Preparing Your Practice for Autumn
As we guide our clients through this transition, it’s equally important to prepare our practices – to grow our practices!
1. Update your knowledge: Attend workshops or webinars on seasonal health to stay current with the latest research and techniques.
2. Adapt your services: Consider offering autumn-specific treatments, workshops, or programs. You can do email-outs to all clients – existing or former – to grow your practice!
3. Create resources: Develop handouts, guides, or online content to support your clients’ autumn health journey.
4. Self-care: Remember to apply these principles to your own life. As practitioners, our well-being directly impacts our ability to serve our clients effectively.
My final thoughts:
By aligning our practices with autumn’s natural rhythms, we can support our own health and guide our clients through this seasonal transition with grace and vitality. Let’s embrace this opportunity to deepen our connection with nature’s wisdom and share these transformative practices with those we serve.
Remember, as members of The Complementary Medical Association, we’re part of a community dedicated to holistic health. Let’s support each other in this seasonal journey, sharing insights and experiences to enrich and grow our practices and better serve our clients.
Wishing you and your clients a nurturing, healthful autumn transition.
Yours in health and healing,
Jayney Goddard, MSc, PG Dip Ed, FCMA, FRSM
President, The Complementary Medical Association