Traditions
This time of year, as summer gives way to fall, oak leaves yellow, grasses brown, and northern winds whip through the trees. Stores make way for holiday displays and all too soon, Christmas carols ring from radios. We’re signaled by our senses to note the Yuletide upon us. Family and friends prepare to gather in time-honored tradition. Our inner voice begins the familiar “to-do” diatribe… planning for meals and travel and gifts and so on.
Do “traditions” stress you out? Is your inner voice controlling your mood? What steps could you take practically that you’ve learned from yoga that will help turn down the volume of that inner critic? We know the tradition of yoga practice, asana (the movements, breath, and postures), is over thousands of years old. Why do we keep returning to it? Could it be because it is a tradition that is reliable?
Like the yellowing cookbook with my mother’s elegant (yet cryptic) hand-writing indicating too much or too little spice, a more accurate yield or a practical tip; I return to her recipes time and time again. Even in this age of millions of photographs and recipes online, I still prefer hers. Why? It is because they are tried and true traditions. Quite simply, they work! Not only do they work, but they bring back memories of loved ones. They hold up the value of togetherness in a set-apart way, they are made from scratch, signaling to others we think they’re special and we love them.
Yoga philosophy heralds these time-tested truths of practicing the traditions. The quieting of the mind and valuing stillness are some examples. Engaging in challenging postures and longer holds. Yoga helps in recognizing how our thoughts come and go. This holiday season, let’s use what we’ve learned in yoga to focus the mind on the gentle in and out of our breath to help diffuse anxiety. The stressful situations won’t disappear, but we can deal with them in a more calm, compassionate way. Perhaps you’re stuck waiting in a long line; try seeing it as an excuse to rest and observe the world around you. If traffic is held up by roadwork, think of how that improvement will make your commute better once they’re done.
This mindful exercise can help you focus & recover from distraction:
Sitting or standing, take a deep breath & close your eyes. Relax shoulders.
Breathe in slowly through nose & out gently through mouth. Say to yourself, “one.”
Continue this slow breathing, up to the count of ten.
Each time your mind wanders, notice where it goes before gently bringing it back to the breath.
We return to our holiday meal traditions (a delicious seasonal dessert or Great-grandmother’s superb stuffing) because they bring comfort and joy. May the practice of observing without judgment, centering your mind on your breath when feeling anxious and learning to see negatives as positives open your mind, encourage empathy, and inspire your creativity this festive season and always!
With a full heart,
Wendy