We all suffer that little low patch during the transition from summer sunshine to the darker days of winter! But try boosting your kidneys with some key yoga poses to ward off those winter blues and fight off those chills.

First of all – before you do anything, imagine your kidneys nice and warm. Either by visualising yourself in a lovely warm place, or even by placing a hot water bottle on the base of your back whenever you feel a little cold or just to give your kidneys some attention!

Yoga can help your body mind and spirit in many ways. But in general, a holistic yoga practice stimulates a healthy flow of energy and fluids around the kidney area, synovial fluid, lymphatic fluid as well as the production levels of blood and urine. Breathwork also helps to nourish the kidney area with fresh oxygen – flushing out out all the old stuff!

Certain postures put pressure on the kidneys can also help to flush and cleanse these organs. Add any twists, forward bends and backbends to your practice. And if you are new to yoga or don’t have a practice as such – just use your intuition… twisting your body massages the organs, and forward and back bends stretch and oyygenate this area… enjoy!

We especially love the legs-up-the-wall pose, Viparita Karani, with a hot-water-bottle firmly placed at the base of your spine to warm the little kidney friends from behind.

And don’t forget your diet… There is more and more evidence to suggest the link between the ‘superfoods’ and their antioxidant properties to keep us healthy. Pack your winter diet full of these key items to keep your kidneys smiling… red peppers, garlic, onions, apples, berries, berries and more berries, grapes, cabbage, cauliflower, fish and egg whites!