It’s about that time again, only 14 more days until Christmas. So if the full swing of holiday planning has taken you by the reigns, chill out by going within. A short 20 minute personal practice can do wonders for your soul, your body, and your outlook through the holidays. Begin with a focus on your breathing, see your mind clear & illuminate as you inhale and let the exhalation release any tension. Breathe deeply for a few minutes, then add some light stretching that feels good for your body. Remember to breathe through the stretching, especially in areas that feel tighter. Practice some strengthening postures like plank, lunge, chair and boat pose. Let your practice move you and go with the flow, enjoying breath with movement, and eventually moving into a lying position. Twist with arms spread wide, legs lowering & lifting side to side so you can release the back. Sink into Savasana, or a full body lying posture as you release any tension left in the body. Visualize a soft light above the head, allow it to melt the muscles as it slowly moves through the whole body. Once you are comfortable, feel the lightness in your body, soul, & mind. Repeat “I’m light in body & mind” until you can completely let go; release into a deep relaxation. When you’re ready to come out of your practice, see the light at the bottom of your body, radiating up through the body as you see vibrant energy awakening every cell. Feel the cells healthy, full of oxygen & the mind bright & clear, as luminous as the North Star. Gently add movements to bring yourself into a seated posture, breathe, soften, and stretch the arms & neck as needed. Once your practice has come to an end, take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this time of year for you. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that it’s not about all the “things” we buy & do, but the intention & interaction between ourselves & others. Enjoy this time of year, and don’t forget about YourSelf. Namaste
When it comes to the holidays & we’re thrown into the family activities, sometimes the ideal family gathering turns into a time of turmoil among relatives. This article, by author Laurel Kallenbach http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/1477?page=4 in Yoga Journal has a great view on how to mesh with your family and enjoy the flow of the family gathering without judgement. There’s also a nice practice at the end by Stephen Cope that you can practice easily. Some of us, in other areas of the country, miss being with extended family at the holidays and are thankful for being with our immediate family. For those of you who get to spend time with extended family, be thankful, enjoy, and find time before the gatherings to connect & give thanks to your body, mind, & soul for being You.
Time for Yourself Release Stress Quiet Mind
Balance of your Life Fulfillment Peaceful Surroundings
Self Care Rituals Daily Energy Carefree Outlook
Fun Adventures Whole Body Health Connected Spirit
Are you a professional woman who is struggling to make time for yourself? Are the daily obligations of a busy work schedule, taking care of the kids, corporate deadlines, numerous meetings and other time constraints taking their toll on you? If you feel like you’ve lost your enjoyment in life and are running on autopilot, I have the answer.
Life doesn’t have to be a full day of all work and no play. In fact, it’s easier than you think to make time for yourself everyday. As a busy professional and mother of 3, I know how it feels to be over-obligated on a daily basis. The key to living life fulfilled instead of overwhelmed is taking bits of time for yourself in each and every day. I help women do this because I know how important it is to overcome stress and have a clear mind. I always say ” You are the only one who is responsible for your body, and if you aren’t taking care of it, nobody else will.” The truth is, if we don’t take care of our bodies, they won’t take care of us. We only get one body in this current life so why not treat ourselves how we deserve to be treated?
I work with overwhelmed women by helping them to care for themselves as much as they do for others. Does that sound like you? Probably not. For whatever reason we put others and all of our duties ahead of taking time for ourselves and that’s a hard habit to break. But there is a solution! As soon as you can recognize that your time you spend on yourself is the most important time in your day, life becomes easier.
Do you struggle daily with keeping your energy level high, overcoming stress, keeping patience with your children, staying focused on projects, sleeping well at night, or having a positive outlook? This is all normal when dealing with too many hours spent on everything in your life and not enough time on yourself. I know we don’t have all day to focus on ourselves and that’s why I teach you to use small amounts of time to add up to huge benefits in your health.
Stress related illness makes up 75-90% of all illnesses seen by doctors.
At least 50% of adults report daily work stress.
99% of working moms say their schedule stresses them out.
Women are twice as likely to have stress symptoms than men.
You don’t have to be a statistic! I believe that True Health is being connected Body, Mind, and Spirit. No matter how many times you hear it, the truth is that when you have the balance and wellness of all three, your life flows much easier. Life isn’t suppose to be hard to deal with, we have enough responsibilities without adding our own personal stress on ourselves by feeling guilty, angry, or inadequate. Chances are, the feelings that bring us down and cause stress are only put on us by our own ideas of how we are “suppose” to be. By taking control of our thought patterns and turning the negative into positive, we begin to see ourselves better. Then by making time for a physical practice we begin to feel better in our body. And by taking time to listen inward and have internal awareness we begin to react to the world around us in a more positive way. Eventually life is fulfilled and we enjoy even the little things with a sense of contentment.
Isn’t life really about living? We should all look forward to our day with excitement and feel gratitude for all the blessings in our life. We don’t have to be “perfect” to be happy. Life is about living with joy and peace. Find time today to enjoy a moment and feel peace with yourself and who you are.
If you feel like you need help with making time for yourself to overcome stress and truly enjoy life, you’ve come to the right place.
I will personally design your yoga program based on your needs and the life you deserve. Feel free to e-mail me or you can call me at 520 343-9695 to schedule a “Find & Free the Stress” personal consultation. Here’s to your life of great health & less stress!
