Pranayama Breathing
Focusing on your breath can be the easiest way to de-stress. If you haven’t tried Pranayama breathing yet now is the time to give it a go.
- Sit with your legs crossed and your back straight, close your eyes and take a few deep, calm breaths.
- Hold up your left hand and hold it against your right nostril so you are breathing with your left nostril.
- Breathe all the way in with your left nostril and when you want to breathe out hold you hand against your left nostril so you are breathing out of your right.
- Continue with this alternative nostril breathing until you are ready to face the mammoth task of cooking Christmas dinner again.
Mountain Pose
Stay strong and grounded throughout the festivities with the mountain pose. It may seem simple but it forces you to focus on every aspect of your body starting from your feet all the way up to your head.
- Find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed and simply stand with your feet together, tall, still and strong.
- Focus on your breath and visualize yourself grounding strong roots into the earth like a tree.
- Allow your mind to focus on your roots moving up to your feet, legs, thighs, hips, stomach, solar plexus, heart, throat, head and mind and stand still in this pose while you reclaim you energy and strength.It’s amazing what we can do if we take a few moments to ourselves…
Warrior Pose
Destress and activate strength, vitality and energy with the Warrior pose, perfect for when you have had a few too many sherries or overdone the Christmas pudding.
- Stand with your feet about a meter apart on the mat. Turn your upper body to the right and your feet aligned with the side edge of the mat.
- Hold your arms up alongside your body mirroring your legs and keep your head and upper body facing towards the right.
- Feel strength building in your arms as you stand like a warrior getting ready for battle even if it is only the Christmas turkey you're are battling.
- Focus on your breath and after holding the pose for five deep inhales and exhales, swap over to the other side.
Savasana
What could be a better way to destress than by relaxing in Savasana after a hectic Christmas Day?
- Simply lie on the ground with your arms beside you about 30cm away from your body and your feet about 60cm apart, breathe deeply and float off into a calming, grounding and restful post-Christmas sleep.