The importance of wellness in autumn

Autumn is marching on quickly and the signs of winter are becoming more and more noticeable, especially as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. 

For many, this season means changing our habits and falling back into our routines, which can directly impact our mood. 

Autumn is certainly a time of change. The summer comes to an end, the weather turns rainy, the landscape changes colour, the days get shorter… and all this leads to mood swings, a lack of concentration, fatigue, stress and even a greater chance of falling ill. 

Knowing this, it’s important to take precautions against these emotional ups and downs and do what we can to protect our health and wellness. 

Besides staying warm, drinking plenty of water, moisturising our skin, sipping teas and infusions, sleeping well and getting out in the sun, there are other ways to look after ourselves this autumn. 

The energy of nature and the benefit of exercise

When the cold arrives and the sun starts to set earlier, we may feel more reluctant to go outside, but the truth is that it’s much better for us than in summer. The lack of sun exposure lowers serotonin production, and this can have an impact on our mood and our get-up-and-go.

Surrounding ourselves with nature away from air pollution has a threefold beneficial effect: we are exposed to sunlight, we breathe fresh air and we inhale a variety of bacteria that help us to restore our intestinal flora.

Basking in the power of forests is a wonderful activity for this autumn, something the Sèlvans Cooperative knows a lot about. By forest bathing or hiking along therapeutic routes, you can tune in to nature and discover all the benefits it can bring to our health and wellness. Walking slowing, enjoying the sound of silence, breathing mindfully and taking in your surroundings with all your senses will provide a truly comforting experience.

Physical activity is also vital at this time of year, as it stimulates the production of various pleasure and feel-good hormones that make us feel more active and cheerful. It also increases blood flow and bolsters our body’s defences.

In Girona we’re lucky enough to have plenty of natural areas, rural routes and hiking trails that allow us to discover some of the most special corners of the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees.

So, it’s easy to find places to exercise and soak up the natural environment.

Risum, for instance, hosts all sorts of yoga classes and Nordic walking outings so that you can train your body in a balanced, symmetrical way while enjoying nature and all its benefits.

Physical exercise is just one option, though, as there are many ways to enjoy nature. Contemplating it or simply being close to it can also trigger many benefits for our mind and body.

So why not retreat for a few days into nature and unplug from your routine to regain your strength?

The Resguard dels Vents Hotel offers spectacular views of the Vall de Ribes and magnificent amenities, such as a spa and treatment centre.

La Garrotxa is also home to excellent country house called Mas Garganta. It’s the perfect place for a getaway retreat with work colleagues, family or friends, offering amazing landscapes, culture and gastronomy.

Balancing mind and body

Autumn is a good season to cultivate our spiritual side, to engage in introspection, study something new, read, write, and sit down to reflect and meditate.

It’s important to do exercises that help us to relax and find our centre. These could include relaxation, yoga or meditation, all of which have a great positive impact on our mind and body.

Happy Yoga Girona offers all kinds of activities based around yoga, a practice that’s becoming increasingly popular among people looking for a change in their day-to-day lives. If you’ve never tried it, now might be the right time to give in and discover the different types of yoga and all the benefits they bring.

Edgar Tarrés, an expert in mindfulness and meditation, aims to break through the noise of everyday life to create experiences that provide peace of mind and promote healthy living. Such experiences may be essential to attend to ourselves and our feelings. They can be extremely helpful in dealing with the roller coaster of emotions we experience this time of year.

And if you’d rather meditate, find peace of mind and practise yoga from home, you can now do so thanks to the new collection of audio sessions recorded by the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees Health and Wellness Club, which features a range of soundscapes from Girona to take you on a journey of peace and serenity.

Eating smart

Autumn is definitely the time to strengthen our immune system and balance it out after all the overindulgences of summer.

With the change of season come cold and flu infections, and many times these are the result of poor energy intake and careless eating during the autumn months.

If you’re not familiar with healthy cooking or find it hard to prepare meals that are good for your health, we have several ideas for you.

Marta Romaní offers a “Reset your Body” plan that will help you to tap into the optimal facets of health-friendly nutrition through mindful eating. In this course or her other workshops, you’ll learn the benefits of a healthy diet and how to build new beneficial habits into your daily routine.

At EspaiCuinarSa, Matthias Hespe can also help you to improve your food choices through his one-to-one or group healthy cooking classes.

It’s another way to get advice on therapeutic cooking close to home.

Also located in Girona’s city centre is Alimara Espai Salut, an eco-shop that sells natural, organic, local and environmentally friendly products.

This is yet another way to change the way we look at healthy eating and learn to embrace habits that bring us vitality and emotional wellness. Through personalised coaching, you’ll be able to look after your physical and emotional health while boosting your nervous, digestive, immune and endocrine systems. The perfect combination to face this time of year with more strength than ever.

Our next recommendation has to do with teas and infusions. In addition to their soothing effect and helping us to regulate our body temperature, they possess certain properties that are highly beneficial for our wellness.

What better time to remind you of the range of organic herbal teas that the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board and Tegust Nature produced last winter as a tribute to Girona, which allow you to savour the aromas and flavours of the sea and mountains in our part of the world.

The power of thermal baths

Another way to pamper yourself this autumn is through the benefits and medicinal properties of water. Imagine soaking in Roman baths in the heart of Girona Old Town, relaxing in a truly special setting where you can unwind and enjoy the thermal waters, various rituals, relaxing treatments, aromatherapy and much more. Aqva Roman Baths is the place you’re looking for, a building steeped in years of history that will take you on a journey of the senses while you enjoy a moment of wellness and complete serenity.

If you want to make the most of your trip to Girona, the Ciutat de Girona Hotel is the perfect accommodation to switch off and enjoy top-rate amenities. Also located in the heart of the Old Town, you’ll feel your strength return and ease into deep relaxation after your day of activities.

Since we’re talking about the benefits of thermal water, we must suggest a trip to Caldes de Malavella, the perfect destination for thermal spa lovers. This town has loads of options for you to enjoy hydrotherapy treatments and tap into the healing properties of its waters. Discover why this town is a wellspring of wellness.

The Vichy Catalan Spa Resort, one of the most well-known in the area, offers peaceful wellness experiences using its mineral-medicinal water for body care and beauty treatments. Its natural, tranquil surroundings make it a temple of wellness that you simply must visit.

Autumn is not just a time of change, it’s the perfect season for deepening our self-awareness, engaging with our sense of well-being, and learning and building new daily habits that keep our spirits high, our bodies healthy and our wellness at its max.