“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” ~Eleanor Brownn
The month of November ushers in the start of the holiday season, with the Thanksgiving holiday just a few weeks away.
When you start gearing up for the holidays, does it ever feel like they come pre-packaged with stress? Making you feel unbalanced and irritable?
While the holiday season can be filled with much joy, it can also be a stressful time of year.
Maybe the holidays bring about worry about money, buying gifts, dealing with uncomfortable family dynamics, or sadness around the absence of loved ones who are no longer here with us.
Perhaps we should ask ourselves this question this holiday season, “How can I approach this holiday season in a yogic way, to make myself happier and healthier?” If we form an intention to be better to ourselves, this can help bring forth a more centered and enjoyable holiday season for ourselves and our loved ones.
This holiday season, I want to encourage you to do three things, to help you flow through the holidays with greater ease…
- Make time for your yoga practice,
- Be kind to yourself, and…
- Journey inward
The 60-75 minutes you spend on your mat, will pull you away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and life in general, allowing you to quiet your mind.
Taking time for ourselves helps us to better nurture our relationships with our loved ones. Notice that when you are happy and fulfilled, everything else just seems to flow with a greater sense of ease…even difficulties.
Be kind to yourself, by listening to your body. How often do we push, and then wind up regretting it later?
- Practice being kind to yourself.
- Rest when your body tells you to do so.
- Work when it will permit you to do so.
- Get enough sleep at night.
The holiday season is busy enough. You’d be surprised at how allowing yourself to slow down and be easy, can be very serving.
Notice that when we are kind and loving toward ourselves, it is that much easier for us to be kind and loving to those around us.
Journey inward, by taking the time to connect with yourself and dig deeper around what you really desire out of life and your relationships.
We must learn to slow the “go, go, go” mentality and take the time to be still, quiet, and reflective.
Rather than fleeing from ourselves, we must learn to listen to what’s inside, because after all, we have to live with ourselves.
Make time this holiday season to connect with yourself through the arts, reading, music, nature, or anything else that speaks to you.
- Why not take a nap?
- Why not take a long walk?
- Why not attempt to clear a space in your home and meditate?
- Why not get to yoga class?
Journey inward by doing the things that will help bring you peace and leave you feeling centered and grounded.
By listening to our hearts and taking care of ourselves, we get closer to inner-peace this holiday season.
When we feel grounded and balanced, we position ourselves for greater ease and flow. We can then put our best foot forward, taking our yoga off the mat and into the world this holiday season.
