Surviving the Holidays - Yogi Style

Let's face it, the holidays can be stressful. We're traveling, have guests staying at our house, extra cooking to do, the kids are home from school, and then there is the shopping. It can all be too much, and often make us want to run away, or maybe have one too many glasses of wine. Thankfully, there are healthy ways to cope and keep your stress levels down.

It's quite simple. Grab your yoga mat, find an empty room, go inside and lock the door. Just kidding. That's not really an option. However, getting on your mat at least once a day can certainly help. Even if you're just practing breathwork during that time. Here are a few of my favorite breathing techniques that help me to stay centered and keep the stress levels down.

1. Nadi Shodana a.k.a. alternate nostril breath: This breathing technique, helps to create balance in the mind. To practice, sit comfortably and place the left hand in gyan mudra, placing that hand in your left hip crease. With the right hand, take vishnu mudra and close the right nostril with the thumb, inhaling through the left side. At the top of the inhale, close the left nostril with the ring finger and exhale through the right. Inhale through the right, then exhale through the left. You will continue this pattern for as long as you can. Creating balance with the inhales and exhales. Below is a video demonstrating this technique.

2. Calming Breath: A simple breathing technique, yet effective at bringing anxious feelings to a halt. Sitting comfortably, you'll place both hands in your lap with the palms facing upwards. The dominant hand being cradled by the other. With the eyes closed, you'll bring your attention to the base of your spine, where your seat meets the mat or prop below you. With an inhale, imagine the breath moving up your spinal column to the crown of your head. Hold the breath for a few seconds, then with an exhale, imagine the breath moving down the spinal column back to the seat. Continue for as long as you need.

3. Diaphramatic Breath: Similar to calming breath, except you will place your right hand on your diaphram, just above the stomach, and the left hand over your heart. Breath as you would for calming breath.

All three of these breathing techniques are beneficial for helping to provide calm feelings. They help to bring balance and awareness to the breath. When we become aware of our breath, we can begin to notice if it's speeding up, or if the breaths are getting shorter. This is when panic and anxiety can kick in. But if we keep the breaths long and deeper, this helps to keep us calm. So if you start to notice yourself getting overwhelmed this holiday season, take a moment an find a quiet place to breath. Just 5 minutes can be beneficial.

Nadi Shodana