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Christmas. Tis the season to be merry, but it can be an absolute nightmare. Spending money you don’t have, buying presents for relatives you don’t really like, deliveries that miss that all-important deadline day, your office party hangover. Or worst of all, it’s your turn to host the family, including your cousin with those three bratty kids who really get under your skin.
If you really want to take the stress out of Christmas, try this fifteen-minute yin yoga fix to get your mind – and your body back on track.
Wall Straddle
This pose is a great way to relieve Christmas stress as it helps improve your blood circulation, promotes deep relaxation and helps relieve tension in your neck.
The easy way into this pose is to lie down parallel to the wall then slide your bottom around as you lift your legs. Now straddle them apart until you feel the stretch in your groin. Stay here for about 4 minutes.
Child’s pose
Feeling that yuletide stress in your stomach? Child’s pose helps you relax and let your intestines do what they need to do, so you can feel calm and collected when the Christmas rush starts.
Flip onto your stomach then come up onto your knees and palms before pushing your hips back. Keep your knees apart and your feet together. Now breathe and enjoy. Stay here for about 3 minutes.
Reclining Twist
If you’ve been overindulging in Christmas fayre, food and festivities, Reclining Twist is a great way to stimulate your digestion while you relax and restore your mental balance.
Lie on your back with your arms out straight. Bring your legs up to your chest, then drop them to your right side. Stay there for 2 or 3 minutes before changing sides.
Savasana
Stay in this relaxing pose for as long as you like. While you’re here, scan through your body. Do you feel that Christmas stress melting away as you gently think inwards – about yourself and your needs, instead of your to-do list?
Now enjoy the smiles as everyone dives into their presents and the joy that surrounds the holiday season!
Paul Steele is a copywriter, yin yoga teacher and author of the book Yin Yoga 50+ who lives in Malmö, Sweden. Paul teaches groups and individuals, often older people, who quickly see the benefits that this slow form of exercise brings, possibly prolonging a person’s life and probably enabling them to get much greater enjoyment from it. It is these benefits that Paul has a passion in sharing. https://www.yinyoga50.com
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