Let’s be honest, whilst we might have grand intentions to keep moving over the Christmas period, and to try to make healthier choices- it’s a really tough gig. Merely making it through the two week ‘Total Wipeout’ style obstacle course that is the pre-xmas period, is a feat of herculean proportions. You’ve burnt the candle at both ends (and in the middle), successfully emerged unscathed from the office party (or not so much), powered through a barrage of work drinks, old team work drinks, old-old team world drinks, and entertained the friends you haven’t seen in ages who randomly decided the best time in the year to delight you with a last minute visit would be, well, a week and a half before Christmas (FFS). And we’ve not even started the Christmas break itself…
Despite all this, there’s a few simple, easy movements you can do to keep the blood flowing, your digestion from falling apart completely and your mind in a semi-lucid state. Here’s how:
Christmas Eve
Chances are it’s been a bit of a struggle to get here. If you feel like a marathon runner crossing the finish line, collapsing in a sweaty, palpitating heap, here’s a short sequence to help restore a tired body and mind, and bring your nervous system into a state of balance:
• Constructive rest pose
• Lying twist
• Easy seated side bend
• Cat - cow
• Low cobra
• Cow faced pose shoulder stretch
• Supported bridge
Christmas Day
This day can be hectic, there’s often a lot to do physically, and a lot to negotiate mentally: the distant cousin that always acts weird that no one quite gets, or the relative who thoughtfully buys the kids that Frozen song book and recorder (seriously, how is Frozen still even a thing). Take time earlier in the morning or later in the day (when everyone slips into a communal post-prandial coma) to move a little:
• Seated twist
• Eagle arms
• Cat cow
• Down dog
• Crescent lunge
• Lunge twist
• Supine leg stretches with strap or towel
• Bridge
Boxing day
Nearly. There. If you’ve been sitting a lot and can no longer feel where your foot begins and your leg ends it’s time to move a bit more. Focus on opening the front of the body, the hips and the back at this point:
• Easy sun salutation
• Crescent lunge + twist
• Standing lunge
• Warrior 2
• Side angle
• Child’s pose
• Wide legged forward fold + shoulder stretch
• Reclined pigeon
• Supine twist
Forwards - to victory!
The holiday season affords us a unique time to rest and restore - no one else is really working so it’s just about as guilt free a period of time off that we get. It can be full on though too, so take some time out to reconnect to your body and breath, reestablish a sense of balance mentally, and ensure an easy and seamless transition back to real life in January. You can repeat these sequences as often as you need, using them as a quick antidote and health boost. And remember, Christmas comes but once a year - thank god! (no really, he started the whole thing).
This article was written for us by our fantastic Brand Warrior James Rafael, Yoga teacher & writer. For more information about James, visit his website www.jamesrafael.com