Dealing with Post Christmas Blues in a Yogic Way

For some people the days after Christmas can be a real let down. Seemingly forever, you’ve been so amped up, making ready for the holidays, picking perfect gifts for loved ones, preparing special meals and entertaining relatives.  Then, suddenly, it’s over.  Everybody leaves. How do you gracefully return to normal?

Try these three things to get yourself out of your head and into the present moment.

1. Seat yourself in a comfortable position on the floor or in a chair. Check-in with your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling through your nose. Do this several times. Even as I write this I feel my shoulders relaxing. This is an awesome practice to do throughout your day.
2. Close your eyes. Feel your sit bones connecting to the chair or floor. Feel your shoulder blades relax down your back. Direct your gaze between your eyebrows, focusing on your third eye. Sometimes I like to direct my gaze to my abdomen, to a point three inches behind my belly button. Now, connect to any sound that you hear and truly hear it, whether it’s a passing car or a ringing in your ears. Sit like this, tapping in, for 20 minutes. Build on this daily sitting practice.
3. Stand up from your seated position and go to a window and look out into the world. For five minutes just witness what you’re seeing. No judgement, just observe.

By doing these three practices you’ve prepared yourself to, as Ram Dass said, “Be Here Now.”