How Yoga can Help you Through any Holiday

I always tell people that the most profound changes I've seen after practicing Yoga have not been on the mat but in my day to day life. Keeping this in mind I'm going to list off a few ways that Yoga can help you not only survive, but enjoy, this Thanksgiving Holiday.

1. "Remembering to Breathe" - Maybe its just me but when the house fills up with 20 relatives, there's something in the oven, babies are crying, and dogs are barking, the last thing I remember to do is breathe. Practicing yoga has taught me the importance of breath and how it can assist us in getting through a challenging pose or over-whelming moment. 2. Keeping with the tone of tip #1 - the practice of Yoga can help us stay in the moment during our holidays. Holidays can be so busy as we run from one celebration to the next trying to pack as much in as we can, and by the end we hardly remember what happened. Many yoga classes start with the instructor saying something along the lines of, "leave your to-do lists at the door, leave behind your thoughts and worries, and stay here on your mat being in the moment." Apply this to your Thanksgiving weekend! Let go of the stress, realize that things will unfold exactly the way they should, be in the moment, and enjoy.

3. One of my favourite things about practicing Yoga is that those 60 minutes are reserved just for me. I've scheduled that time for myself and it is uninterrupted "me time". Try to maintain this during the weekend - we tend to go-go-go and by the end of the weekend are exhausted and depleted. Find at least a few minutes a day to sit with yourself, practicing some self-care. Whether that's going for a run, reading, or taking a bath. It can be 5 minutes but taking that time will rejuvenate you and allow you to truly appreciate the crazier times.

4. Inversions?? Because why not. But do these before dinner not after... after dinner is a poor idea.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend :)

#yoga #reflections