Yoga off the Mat - Balance

How can yoga help us "off the mat" this time of the year? We know how difficult it is to balance life in general but during the holidays it can be even more challenging. Not only do we have to balance work vs. family and time for ourselves vs. time for others, we have to think about how much money to spend, which parties to go to, how much to eat and drink when we're celebrating, etc. All of these things also involve balancing our energy so we have the endurance to enjoy the holiday season without excess fatigue.

If we are actively practicing yoga, we can focus on control and purpose in our practice. We can do this by thinking about what a pose can teach us, staying focused on each pose using deep breathing, and noticing how some poses can make us feel strong and grounded. As we move from pose to pose, making sure we are doing so with control and with deliberate safe movements, using our energy efficiently.

We can also turn towards meditations focused on balance and stability. Bringing these things into our practice should help us prepare for and endure the busy holiday season.

So what if you are not practicing yoga? If you're interested, now would be a great time to get started. If not, you can still apply some of the yogic principles to make this busy season easier to tolerate:

• creating order and structure (getting organized and following a routine),
• giving thanks and staying positive,
  
• being happy when others succeed,
  
• helping and supporting those in need,
  
• being tolerant,
• taking time for relaxation,
• continuing to learn.