The Gift of Yoga during the Holidays

We’re all in the thick of it right now: racking our brains on what to get for so-and-so, attending holiday parties, moaning about the money spent on gifts, drinking a little too much and revealing your apt for singing Taylor Swift songs at the office holiday party, and best yet – crashing from your sugar high from scarfing down all the delicious holiday desserts.

Holidays are full of happy, stressful and REAL moments.

During these times of high energy and activity, attending a yoga class is probably one of the last things on anyone’s mind (or so I thought). But, I was thoroughly surprised to teach an almost full-class this past Sunday morning!

Yoga is always good for you no matter what season, but it is ESPECIALLY good for you during this time of year. According to the American Psychological Association,

If you are already experiencing stress in other areas of your life, you may be especially vulnerable to increased anxiety during the holidays. However, it is important to view the holidays as an opportunity to enhance your psychological well-being.

The APA recommends taking conscious steps to ensure a worry-free and enjoyable holiday season. One of them is: Take time out for yourself.

All my students who came to my Hatha class had that same intention. Their goal was to go inward and find some calm and peace in all the hullabaloo surrounding them. Yoga is a practice that is focused on the internal. We went through a  breath-focused practice which required them to tune out the rest of the world and tune IN (Pratyahara).

You can’t give all your love, energy, time, and effort towards your loved ones if you yourself aren’t centered and content (Santosha)

It may sound much more appealing to deal with the stress of the holidays by eating yet another double-fudge brownie and hiding from your family’s squabbles. But, think about attending a yoga class nearby you. It is possible that a class that is usually crowded will less so. This gives you ample opportunity to  ZEN out and think about all that you are grateful for this holiday season.

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading.

Namaste and Happy Holidays!