Home and Family > Holidays > Are You Ready to Break the Cycle of Holiday Stress this Year? - 9 Key Secrets from Yoga
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Karen Cohen
Feeling a bit off-balance is a common by-product of modern life,
especially during the holiday season. In fact, the holidays seem to
come pre-packaged with specialized stress. With all of the pressure to
shop, cook, spend, travel and socialize, it is all too easy to be stretched
beyond your limits, unable to enjoy special times with family and friends.
As a rule, we (mistakenly) equate self-worth with doing and producing.
But being too busy, especially during consumer-crazy, socially
pressured holiday time, we miss out on our true nature and the
genuine spirit of the season.
By taking a yogic approach to the
holidays you can find a sense of stability, nurture your own spirit, and
create a happier family holiday.
Consciously cultivate an intention to take care of yourself and your
holiday obligations in a more centered way. Practice these nine mind-
body lessons for more balance, harmony, and joy this year’s holiday
season:
1. Find Refuge in the Body - When you feel yourself getting
tense or pressured, just notice your breathing. Perhaps you can stop
and breathe deeply and slowly. Then walk around a bit, feeling your
feet connecting to the earth as a way of grounding yourself. The idea is
to get out of your head and into your body.
2. Get Physical - Exercise keeps you centered, and building
it into your schedule ensures that you will slow down, no matter what the
day’s circumstances. Exercise cleanses stress chemicals from the body,
reduces fatigue and boosts energy. Try stretching for a few minutes
throughout the day.
3. Sleep More - Allow yourself extra time to sleep to
counteract the effects of stress. Napping and sleeping give us a chance
to slow down and turn inward. This is especially important for women,
who tend to jam sleep time to meet the high level of demands placed on
them.
4. Snack Smart - Avoid the energy swings created by
sugary snacks and processed foods. Instead, stock up on healthy
snacks like sunflower seeds, other nuts high in protein, and packets of
instant miso soup. Seek out complex carbohydrates for healthy energy.
5. Mindful Eating - You may be too busy for a proper meal
break, but you can make the most out of the little time that you have.
Practicing mindfulness while you eat will help you become more
conscious and remind you to focus on nourishing your body. Try taking
three relaxing breaths before you begin eating. Then, rest your hands in
your lap at least three times while you eat,
and breathe deeply again.
6. Prioritize - Figure out what’s most important and take
action. This means the holiday season in general and individual
stressful situations as they come up. Do not react and fall back into old
habits or fears, but instead uncover what is crucial. Ask yourself, “How
can I best take care of myself in this moment?”, and, “What is the most
helpful thing to focus my attention on right now?”
7. Follow a Routine – Although schedules are disrupted, find
a way to maintain a modified routine. Balance is not working intensely
for several days and then collapsing for a few. Create a routine that
includes energizing and restful moments every day.
8. Get Creative - Paint, draw, or listen to music. Engage in
anything that stimulates the right brain, the seat of creative solutions to
old challenges. Getting creative refreshes the mind and revitalizes the
spirit.
9. Turn Inward - The real key to finding balance is to focus
inwardly and listen to what is inside. Take regular moments to connect
with yourself. If you can do it while connecting with nature, so much the
better. Whatever it takes to reconnect with your inner self is fine. A walk
in nature, a nap, a two-minute meditation or twenty minutes of yoga can
all create harmony. In stillness we may recover our strength and
wisdom; in the quiet of non-action we are led to what will give us
spiritual nurture.
With practice, this holiday season can be one of deep inner connection
and peace. Slow down and reconnect with your own inner wisdom each
day and you can feel grounded, rejuvenated and ready to bring your
balanced, best self to your holiday celebrations. Cheers!
“Who is there that can make muddy water clear? But if allowed to remain
still, it will gradually become clear of itself” Tao Te Ching
Namaste’
Karen B. Cohen C.L.C. RYT500 is a wellness coach and master yoga
instructor, writer and speaker residing in a college town in rural Virginia.
Karen leads people to their own limitless supply of creativity and vitality
so that they can express their talent and abilities fully in the world. She
incorporates her expertise in mind-body techniques to teach clients how
to harness stress for their greatest success. Karen provides seminars
and workshops, as well as individual coaching and training, nationally
and internationally.
For more
information go to KarenCohenYoga.blogspot.com and RockbridgeCoaching.blogspot.com
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