The Daily Check-In 12.28

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, people should maintain a balance of yin and yang energies in their bodies. Yin encompasses cold and darkness; yang represents heat and sun. So it follows that in the winter, you should eat foods that build up yang energy (such as rice, eggs, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg) and avoid those that reinforce yin energy (like soy products and raw produce). That doesn’t mean you should avoid all soy or produce in the winter. Cooking yin ingredients is a good way to infuse them with yang energy, making them suitable for winter meals, explains Carolyn Cohen, a licensed acupuncturist and professor at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Los Angeles.

You usually wouldn’t hear this advice coming from your trainer but unique times call for unique strategies. Cooper Mann, a Tier X coach at Columbus Circle in New York City, says that especially if you haven’t been doing anything over the past several weeks, it’s important to start slow and work your way up.

“Going too hard too fast will leave you in pain, possibly injured, and mentally deflated.” Instead, try doing 20 percent less than you think you can, and build forward momentum from there. “If you are lifting weights, find a weight that you can lift easily for 15 to 20 reps. Once you establish that number, you can start to slowly increase the weight, but decrease the number of repetitions. If the workout feels good, add no more than 10 percent to the next session.”

Center yourself in advance of the new year with The Shop’s latest curated set: Spa at Home. “The vitruvi diffuser and oils create a mindful, grounded vibe, especially with the stress and distraction of the moment,” says James Gu, New York City–based director of The Spa. He recommends the eucalyptus, spruce, and grapefruit oils in the morning and lavender at night.

When it comes to the selection of face products, Leah Gilmore, senior manager of operations at EQX Body Lab and The Spa, suggests using the Babor Hydrogel mask after you wash your face, and tuning into a HeadStrong meditation while you mask. If you’re feeling more active, take the time to give your thighs, stomach, or arms a NuBody microcurrent massage. Post-mask, gently apply the remaining product to the skin on your face, neck, and décolletage and follow up with a gua sha massage to lift muscles and drain lymph.