Alleviate Holiday Season Stresses with Adapted Yoga Practices
The holiday season can be full of joy and social interaction, but it can also bring setbacks.
Spending too much time sitting, indulging in sugary treats, or experiencing higher-than-usual stress levels can take a toll on your body and mind.
Fortunately, there are simple strategies to help alleviate holiday season stress and maintain your well-being throughout the festive season.
Watch the video above to alleviate stiffness.
Alleviate Stiffness: Combat Holiday-Season Inflammation
Eating too much sugar, and then sitting around can lead to increased stiffness or inflammation. Increasing your protein intake can counteract both the cravings for sugar, and the effects of eating too much sugar.
Here is an adapted yoga sequence that you can do anytime throughout the holidays:
- Wrist circles: Rotate both wrists in circles 4 times in one direction and 4 times in the other direction
- Ankle circles: Rotate one ankle at a time. 4 times in one direction, 4 times in the other direction.
- Wrist and opposite ankle circles: 4 times in one direction, 4 x times in the other direction. Repeat other side
Strength (loss) – Maintain Strength During the Holidays
Watch the video for a bonus strength-building pose!
Strength (loss) – Maintain Strength During the Holidays
Muscle loss can accelerate with age, and just two weeks of inactivity during the holidays can result in a noticeable loss of strength and muscle mass. Let’s keep you strong with this quick and effective adapted yoga sequence.
Do this adapted yoga sequence from a kitchen chair daily to keep up your strength.
- Bicep Curls: Perform 8 repetitions, rest, and repeat (option: use cans for extra weight).
- Foot Presses: into the ground 4 times; Add Glutes (bum cheeks) and squeeze 4 times. Repeat.
- Chair Stands: Stand up from the chair. Sit down on the chair. Repeat 4 times.
- Chair Pose Hold: Stand up from the chair and hold the yoga chair position for 3 breaths in and out.
Don’t Stress! The video will help you understand how to do these.
Watch the video to relieve stress and find your calm during the holidays.
Relieve Stress: Find Your Calm During the Holidays
Socializing too much or spending too much time alone can both increase stress. The holidays can be overwhelming, but these simple tools can help you manage stress and regain calm.
The holidays can be stressful for many different reasons. I want to gift you with two tools to use to alleviate stress at any time.
- Pancake tool (courtesy of Cathrine Page) – Rub your hands together. Then place one hand on top of the other but slightly apart. Keep the lower hand still. While breathing gently, make a circle with the top hand from the thumb around to the pinky finger 4 X. Flip the palms over and repeat 4 X.
- Finger breathing – This is my favorite tool for calming quickly.
Touch your thumbs and pointer fingers. Breathe in, and slowly out.
Touch your thumbs and middle fingers. Breathe in, and slowly out.
Touch your thumbs and ring fingers. Breathe in, and slowly out.
Touch your thumbs and pinky fingers. Breathe in, and slowly out.
Open your palms. Breathe in, and slowly out.
Wishing You a Joyful Holiday Season
Whatever or however you celebrate, take care of your body and mind. Want to start the new year with less stiffness, more strength, and a sense of calm?
Join me online for January and move into 2025 feeling your best!
