Inspirations with Emily J. Weitz

Hangover Health

Ahh to be young and fabulous in New York City. It was a crisp October morning when I stepped into the street to meet a few old friends for a reunion that was a long time coming. We were meeting for brunch in the West Village - a prix fixe jazz brunch with unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys. This "unlimited booze" thing became a theme for the day. And a dangerous one.

I could tell I was having a champagne day, so I passed on the horseradish and vodka for its lighter, bubblier breakfast alternative. But breakfast drinking does have a tendency to set you up for a certain kind of day.

My friends and I laughed over our omelets and soaked up the morning cocktails like sponges until it was time to move on. But we didn't wander far before we sat again, and by this time, the wine was flowing. We drank our way through the entire day, all the way up to the karaoke bar where we swooned til the wee hours. When I woke up this morning, my body was paying dearly for all that fabulousness. But there are ways to fight the hangover and turn your morning after into a day worth getting out of bed for.

The cardinal rule of fighting hangovers is hydration. Tempting though it may be to grab for a coffee when your body is dragging, the caffeine will actually dehydrate you, making you feel worse. Instead, drink as much water as you can. I'm a big fan of Vitamin Water, either the Rescue or the Revive varieties. But anything with B vitamins will help counteract the damage.

Once you have your giant water bottle by your side, try some restorative yoga. It may sound like physical activity is the absolute last thing you want to do, but if you just drag yourself to your mat, you may find your body wants to stretch, squeeze and twist. Yoga helps cleanse the organs, which, after a night of drinking, can be pretty filled with toxins.

Start slowly. Roll out your mat and simply sit, allowing your mind to quiet. Take a few deep, fresh inhales and exhales to open up the capillaries in your lungs. Unfold your legs and lay down on your back. Brings your knees into your chest and then let them both fall to the left side. Make a T with your arms, and try to keep the right shoulder blade rooting down into the floor. The process of twisting is actually comparable to wringing out your organs. Very detoxifying. Repeat on the other side.

Now, stretch your legs out on the ground. Lift your left leg and hold it at the fleshy part of the thigh. Without rounding your back, pull your leg in towards your chest. Reach out and grab hold of your left big toe with your left hand, or use a strap or a belt if you can't reach it. Then, keeping your right leg rooting into the ground, lower your left leg out to the side. Take a few deep breaths here, then bring the leg up. Switch hands so now the right hand is holding the left big tow or the strap. Let the left leg come across the body and lower it down to the right in a twist. Repeat on the other side. You'll feel the blood beginning to flow more in your pelvic region, which helps get more fresh energy flowing through the whole body.

Come up to sit, then come into a squat. Place your hands in prayer at your heart center, pressing out on your knees with your elbows. This is a grounding pose that helps you open up in your hips while centering you and restoring balance. To give yourself a twist in this pose, bring your right hand to the floor in front of your right knee and reach up to the sky with your left hand. Open up in your chest and spread the arms wide.

Once you've done a few simple poses, lay down on the floor and relax. Embrace the tiredness in your bones, embrace the memories of the night before, and then let go.

Then, take a shower and wash the smell of late night bar out of your hair. And get out and enjoy that beautiful day!

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