The holiday season brings joy, love and togetherness each year, along with stress, anger and a limited sense of personal space. The negative emotions can be made more intense when there is family visiting or tension between friends. Yoga can be an effective tool against the more challenging situations that arise at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The most important step is to set aside time each day for meditation and yoga. Doing so keeps the mind and spirit centered during a hectic holiday schedule. For some, engaging in yoga first thing in the morning helps to get the day off to a relaxed start. For others, it may happen while children are napping or when everyone else in the house is otherwise engaged.
It can be helpful to write out feelings in a journal before beginning the meditation, as this will relieve emotional stress. Listening to soothing music in a candlelit environment will aid in calming and centering the spirit. Using balanced breathing, which involves inhaling through one nostril while exhaling through the other, prepares the body for yoga poses.
One simple pose that can be done nearly anywhere is legs on the wall, or Inverted Action. This is done by placing the legs against the wall, with a pillow or other type of support under the hips. The arms are relaxed and placed at the sides. This pose is about simply letting go and resisting the urge to check a smartphone or be in a hurry to go somewhere else. Five minutes in this position can bring much inner calm.
While gift-giving can be a challenge in both cost and pleasing the recipient, making gifts very personal can be rewarding in terms of showing gratefulness. Taking the time to choose gifts that suit the personality and essence of each individual can remove much of the tension associated with the holidays.
Another way to avoid inner turmoil is to not overeat at Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas get-togethers where there is often unhealthy fare. Placing the digestive system under stress will upset the body’s balance, disrupting sleep patterns and emotional reactions. While yoga can help keep these issues in check, it is best to not eat more than necessary.
The holiday season is mainly about giving to others, but it should also be about giving to oneself. Yoga and meditation can do much to keep a person in balance and allow for a joyful, happy holiday season.