Time For Yourself Is Never Time Wasted

How strange that the nature of life is change, yet the nature of human beings is to resist change. And how ironic that the difficult times we fear might ruin us are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom into who we were meant to be. ~Elizabeth Lesser

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, and/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…
1) Make time for your yoga practice,
2) Be kind to yourself, and …
3) 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 your 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 how 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 how when we are kind and loving toward ourselves, it is that much easier for us to be kind and loving to those around us.

Be kind to yourself, by listening to your body. How often do we push, and then wind up regretting it later?

The 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? The journey inward by doing the things that help bring you peace and leave you feeling centered and grounded.

By listening to our hearts and taking care of ourselves, we can find 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.

About the Image:

Marina Mukandala is featured in this newsletter issue, in Seated Forward Fold Pose (Pashimottanasana).  The benefits of seated forward fold are as follows:

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
• Stretches the spine, shoulders, and hamstrings
•  Improves digestion
• Soothes headaches and anxiety and helps reduce fatigue
• Can help relieve the symptoms of menopause and menstrual discomfort
• Therapeutic for high blood pressure, infertility, insomnia, and sinusitis