In modern times we are expected to continue to operate at the same frequency and with the same high energy levels throughout the year and in December the pace picks up even more. As we frantically rush around shopping, wrapping, cooking, travelling and partying, many of us can find ourselves low in energy, depressed, stressed or anxious. The truth is, for many of us, the pace of the festive season is simply out of kilter with the natural energy of the season. When it feels more natural to embrace stillness, peace and restfulness, we are encouraged in the festive “spirit” to do quite the opposite and we may end up wondering why on earth we’re not enjoying ourselves!

Yoga can help us embrace stillness in our lives, and to live in a way which is much more in tune with the cycles of nature. And this can lead to us changing how we approach seasonal events. 

 And when the pace becomes frenetic, our yoga practice can be something we can come back to even if it’s just to take a few moments breathe deeply and reconnect with the peace and stillness within.

On 13th December we will be exploring this and other themes in our Midwinter Stillness Workshop

photo by szlea on flickr

Writing this week about my work with people living with cancer, I found myself commenting most significantly on the breath. The breath is our connection between the body and the mind. When we are stressed, or anxious, the breath can become short or shallow, we can even find ourselves holding the breath just as we clench the jaw or hold tension in the shoulders or belly. And breathing in this unhelpful way can become a habit. By learning to breathe more easily and practising simple breath awareness we can start to create a deeper connection with what is happening in the body. Simply noticing the breath can begin to change the way we breathe. Making space in the body by releasing long-held tension, we free the diaphragm allowing us to explore the full capacity of our lungs. When we take this practice further , maybe by following a practice of yoga, we can create new habits of breathing that have profoundly positive affects on our wellbeing.

Practising Breath Awareness

Sit or lie comfortably. Take a few deep breaths and release the breath in a big sigh, relaxing the abdomen as you breathe out. Then breathe comfortably through the nostrils, easily, without changing the breath in any way. Keep the abdomen relaxed and when you breathe naturally, it will move with the breath- rising on the inhalation and releasing on the exhalation. Although don’t feel the need to force this, just keep your abdomen relaxed – and breathe. You may focus on this movement of the body as your breathe – or you may find that you are drawn to some other aspect of the breath, such as the sensation of the breath in the nostrils or throat, the sound of the breath or even just the idea of it. Focus in whatever way is easy. Allow the breath to fill your thoughts. Allow other thoughts to drift. You won’t stop other thoughts coming, but just let them go again. If a thought or feeling distracts you, bring yourself gently back to thinking about the breath but don’t let this be a struggle, allow yourself to be gently guided back to the breath each time. As you focus you may find that your breath starts to become longer and deeper. Again, just let this happen. Become absorbed in the breath for a few minutes.