Yoga Tips for Less Holiday Stress
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During the holiday season we need
our yoga more than ever! Our on-staff teacher has put together a
few yoga tips for you to help you through what can sometimes be
chaotic, stressful time but should instead be peaceful and
giving. |
Sitting in the floor or at a table
gift-wrapping for hours? Pose of the hero and pose of the child both
will remedy the sore back and re-energize you for the next round of
wrapping.
Pose of the Hero
Lower your forehead to the floor without
the arms. Forehead to floor, sitting on knees, arms outstretched in
front of you. Slightly lift the buttocks off of the legs, stretching ,
reaching the arms as far as possible, breathing in as you lift and
stretch, exhaling as you release with buttocks to legs. Repeat four or
more times. Relax a moment in pose of a child. Forehead to floor, arms
beside you, let shoulders relax to floor.
Pose of the Child - sit on your
calves. Bring your forehead to the floor, arms back and around you on
the floor. Shoulders down. Relax.
Getting frustrated standing in shopping lines? Pose of the mountain
is your best friend!
Pose of the Mountain
Come back into the straight standing
position and remain for at least four breaths, eyes straight ahead, body
tall and stretched.
For general holiday stress you can go into Sarvasana anytime, you
don’t have to be on the floor.
Savasana (Corpse Pose) I - Relaxation
Begin by lying down, palms turned upward,
feet relaxed and falling open. Completely relaxed. Relax the feet, the
calves, the thighs, the buttocks. Relax the lower back by pushing it to
the floor, then releasing. Relax he shoulders by pulling them down away
from the neck. Relax your chest, abdomen, diaphragm, face, eyes,
eyelids, mouth, let the mouth fall slightly open. Now just lie in
relaxation. Clear the mind of thoughts. Breathe normally.
Place hands on lower stomach (diaphragm
area) breathing in and out. Notice how the body feels, notice the
breath. Do this for four or more breaths. In and out.
Move the hands to the rib cage area.
Repeat. Feel the breath.
Move the hands to the upper chest,
repeat. Feel the breath.
Relax. Now to take Savasana with you: do
it sitting, riding in a car, at your desk, wherever and whenever you
feel the need to relax!
Remember the best thing you can do is to
include quiet time at least one night a week for yourself. An extra long
yoga session, a bubble bath, a simple healthy dinner and some meditation
will all go a long way to helping you have a peaceful and stress free
holiday season.
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