December is here and with it comes the official start of winter and the holiday season.  It’s so interesting to me that this is such a busy time of year.  If we were to take our cue from nature, we’d be slowing down, moving inward and toward a sense of quiet and stillness.

Why then, during this time when we feel most like cuddling up with a blanket and a good book, does this traditionally turn into the BUSIEST time of the year??? As we move from Thanksgiving preparations into the shopping frenzy marking the Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa holidays, all the food, festivities and celebrating, and the hustling and bustling to find the perfect gift seem to go against the signs we receive from nature and from ourselves. . .SLOW DOWN, GO INSIDE - not only physically, in-doors, but inside ourselves, preserving our energy, restoring.

So how do we strike the balance between all of the festivities of the holidays and our innate sense to go inside? How do we get through this season in a way that nourishes us and leaves us feeling restored rather than zapped of our energy?

• Maybe simply start by making the holidays your time, celebrating them with traditions that mean something to you, traditions that bring you a sense of peace and joy so you are filled with those blessings.
• Even making time to practice yoga, meditate, read a book, or enjoy a long bath - anything that makes you feel good - is a wonderful way to nourish and nurture yourself. 
• And, if course, knowing when to say no to kind invitations is of extreme value, especially when you feel like those events will be more draining than filling.

By creating a holiday season that supports your well-being, rather than depletes it, you'll experience more fully the richness of this special time of year. And by nurturing your own self, your own spirit, you become a messenger of light, of peace, and of joy!

Check out my schedule of classes and videos for more movement practices!