Keeping your practice alive during the festive season
The festive season comes with a mix of emotions, joy, happiness, feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and pulled in different directions, making it difficult to know where to focus your energy and time. There are presents to buy, parties to attend or host, family and work commitments, and a busy social calendar, which can make it challenging to maintain your usual routine. Despite the excitement of the end of the year, there is also anxiety to cope with, especially given current events.
Although our yoga practice can guide us through challenging times, we understand that it may be difficult to maintain a routine during this period. Showing up on our mat and connecting with our breath can ground us and help us cope with obstacles, but we often neglect this ritual. As we approach the holiday season, we have an opportunity to reshape our practice and adapt to our current circumstances. To help keep your practice alive, we have listed some of our favourite practices!
Home practice - Lacking time to travel to the studio?! Even 20 minutes on your mat can do the trick. Since the pandemic, a lot of teachers have started teaching online, which means you can now learn from some amazing instructors from the comfort of your own home. You can practice with us on The Fold, a platform we partner with. Simply use the code NECTAR to enjoy a 3-week free trial. The Fold has a beautiful community of experienced and caring teachers you can practice with and learn from.
Meditation - All you need is 10 minutes! Still don't think you have the time, set your alarm 10 minutes earlier. Grab a cushion, get comfy or try a walking meditation on the way to your next event or meeting. There are so many great apps now and our go-to are the beautiful mediation practices available on The Fold Online. If meditation is new for you, why wait until the New Year, just give it a go and be curious!
Gratitude Practice - This is where we take practice and all our teachings off the mat. We tend to think of 'yoga' in such a literal way. At the end of every evening write down five things you are grateful for. This is such a meaningful way to unwind from your day and could take as little as 2 minutes.
Breathwork - When things get overwhelming, stop, pause and take 5 deep breaths. Bringing awareness to our breath and slowing down the rhythm and pace helps our nervous system regulate. And the plus is it helps ground us and brings us back to the present moment.
Book a yoga date - Grab your bestie, family member or partner and book a yoga date catch-up. We love to share the practice with our loved ones in the studio. Coffee catch-ups after class are an absolute must!
Say No - A tough one to mention, but it's important to learn to say no, even though it's difficult. We live in a society that values saying yes to everything, but you can only do so much. Don't hesitate to prioritise your mental and physical health during this time. If it means skipping an event to attend an evening practice or getting a good night's sleep so that you can wake up early and commit to a morning routine, then do it. You will have more meaningful connections with others if you are well-rested.
Mantra - Whether it is creating an intention for the day ahead each morning, to help you stay focused and present, or listening to your favourite mantra tracks on Spotify. Positive affirmations and music can help to lower cortisol levels and enhance cognitive function, leading to deep awareness and a sense of well-being. Here are our favourite mantra tracks to listen to in the car, on the way to the next event or sing along to in the shower.
A Mindful Moment - If all else fails the next time you make a cuppa, pause for a moment, feel your feet on the ground, take a deep breath, close your eyes and simply be!
Happy holidays x