By Yogi Ranjit Deora
Cultivate the conscious intention to take care of yourself and those holiday obligations in a more centered way.
Five simple ways to tame holiday stress and nurture your own spirit:
- Start Early-Give yourself plenty of time to get prepared. The earlier you get things done, the more time you’ll have to enjoy parties and other holiday activities.
- Avoid Caffeine-The caffeine containing foods and drinks can make you feel jumpy, anxious, and fearful. They can interfere with your ability to relax and sleep, thus increasing holiday stress.
- Lighten Up-Holiday blues can be amplified. Try to get outside for a while each day, preferably for some exercise or a meditative walk. 20 minutes outside right now will make you feel better.
- Exercise-Thirty minutes of yoga can naturally relieve holiday tension. Acknowledge that you probably will not always have time for your full workout routine during the holidays, and plan for that. Do what you can, but don’t stop.
- Breathe-Conscious breathing is the single most effective relaxation technique.
Try this simple yogic breathing exercise…it’s simple and can be done anywhere:
- Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth. Keep it there during the exercise.
- Exhale completely through your mouth, making a ‘whoosh’ sound.
- Next, close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
- Hold your breath for a count of seven.
- Then, completely exhale through your mouth, making a ‘whoosh’ sound to a count of eight.
- This is one breath cycle. Now, inhale again and repeat the cycle three more times for a total of four breaths.
Breathe out your stress and enjoy the holidays, or at least survive from the holiday stress.
Yogi Ranjit Deora is the founder of Yoga Health Solutions and has been dedicated teacher of Yoga/ Meditation for more than 20 years who has taught corporate yoga & yoga therapy all over the United States. 704-277-6049, Email Ranjit
