We’re coming home for Christmas with pleasures for body, mind and spirit. Ali Roff Farrar encourages us to embrace balance, feel joy in the moment, pay it forward and take good care of ourselves

BRIGHTNESS AND SHADOW

Winter solstice is on the way, with traditional symbols of fire and light on the darkest day of the year. All life contains light and dark; bitter and sweet - ‘give me more’ pleasant and ‘not now, not ever!’ unpleasant. But, so often, we embrace the good and try to ignore the bad: indulging in Christmas treats but forgetting about the physical discomfort they can cause; looking forward to the big day, then grieving when it’s over…

A sprinkle of mindfulness helps - not only to accept the light and dark as they come, but to make conscious decisions that serve our happiness and health in balance.

Psychologies Wellness Director, mindfulness expert and yoga teacher

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#mindfulhealth@aliroff @psychologiesmagazine, psychologies.co.uk

DJ’s Cold Infusion pockets, £9.99 for 10, coldinfusion.co.uk

Drink

Cocktails in the bag

There’s nothing wrong with a tipple or two in celebration, but I’ll pass when it comes to the sugary mixers that often overpower the subtler flavours anyway. This year, I’ll be mixing my drinks with 100 per cent natural botanical DJ’s Cold Infusion Pockets - teabags for your cocktails! Just choose your infusion (I love Orange Osmosis with orange peel, apple pieces, rosehip, hibiscus, lime peel, lime leaves and safflower), add your spirit, top with a mixer such as soda water, a couple of ice cubes and enjoy!

Wonders

GINGER SPICE

Country:China

Quarterpast fruit infusions, £16.64 for four flavours, all containing the magic ingredient - ginger! quarterpast.com

Ginger originates in southern China. It travelled around the world on ancient trade routes and was highly valued - in the Middle Ages, the cost of a half a kilogram of ginger was equivalent to one sheep! It tastes wonderful of course and has many health uses across the globe throughout history: In Jamaica, for constipation, in Myanmar, mixed with palm tree juice to prevent flu, in Japan to improve circulation and in India, rubbed onto the temples to relieve headaches.