While the holiday season is full of fun, there is always the chance that the busy season will get you feeling more stressed than gleeful. Instead of losing your cool, take a few minutes to reconnect and get centered with some yoga; it will keep you sane through the height of the season. Even if you only have 15 minutes to spare, moving through a yoga sequence will help you keep calm and leave you saying “Om” instead of “AHHHH!”

Dealing with the endless holiday demands can take its toll on you mentally and physically. Yoga releases tension you might be carrying in your neck, shoulders and back from being on your feet so much. Stretching and twisting those areas out can take away your aches and pains. Another bonus of practicing over the holidays can help you maintain or lose weight during the season.

You may think that there is no time to do yoga, especially over the holidays, but putting aside just 20-30-minutes a few times per week will make the stress seem much more bearable. If you can’t attend a class, you can watch a yoga DVD in the morning or before going to bed.

Whether you decide to fit in an Ashtanga class, meditation, or a home practice, be sure to do something for yourself. Although yoga is intended to be a lifelong practice, it is undoubtedly an essential component to relieving stress over the holiday season. From Thanksgiving dinner to brunch on New Year’s Day, let yoga help you better manage holiday stress.

Sarah Kuretzky, MA, CPT, CHHC

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