DECEMBER 2017

SEASON'S GREETINGS!

I hope this greeting finds you well, connecting with loved ones and creating cherished memories to savor, while treating yourself with care.  In the thick of bustling holiday season it is so key to treat yourself kindly.  If you are like me, finding balance during the holidays is a must, otherwise it can be short trip to exhaustion and catching the latest bug making its way around.  And, sometimes the holidays can 'bring up stuff'--whether it is missing a loved one, reflecting on times past, or interacting with that extended family member who always gets under your skin.  Sometimes with all the glitter there a sense that the holidays are supposed to be, should be, a 'rosy' time all around. Yet like life, this time of year is multi-layered, with both priceless joys and . . .stress.  

To support you in taking good care of yourself through the remaining weeks of the season, I'm sharing some self-care tips that I hope you can use to connect back to yourself and what your body may need.  You will find them below.  Also, this month's new Movement and More clip focuses on the often neglected base of support--your feet.  Feet can get abused during this time of year--and I hope you can nurture them with a short practice for yourself.  Please reach out if you'd like receive my monthly Movement and More clips. They are a great way to start a mini-home practice for yourself. 

I don't have any special workshops to announce for December. Instead, my fortunate news is that I have an opportunity to visit India this month (this is what happens when a long-time girlfriend has an extra ticket and she picks you to go with her! Yay!)  I can't wait to share my experiences when I get back. We've got some great sightseeing planned and naturally visiting the birthplace of yoga will make this an exceptionally special trip for me.  

I do have a HOLIDAY SPECIAL going on that right now.  If you are ready to start of 2018 with self-care that makes sense of your body and your real life, let's connect.  It's not about fixing you. It's about growing into the wholeness of who you can be. Amazing things can happen when you deepen your connection to your body and honor that. And it makes a great gift for a loved one too!  You can find details below.

Sending you light and love,

Carolyn

SELF-CARE DURING THE HOLIDAYS

There's a lot out there about self-care these days, which is great, because different things connect to different people. And I love that.  You might wonder though what a yoga therapist like myself really does for self-care, particularly during the holiday season when the load is a bit higher.  So here are top things that help me find greater balance.  Maybe some of them will work for you too.  

• Morning check-in.  Every morning I do have mat time--but my check-in gets done even earlier--as soon as I hope my eyes.  I begin getting a reading of where my energy is starting for the day, and of course, where I feel morning body stiffness, etc. It is a good gauge to lead me into some mat time.  Truthfully, I didn't always used come to my mat and ask my body what it needed. For longer than I care to admit I came to my mat and went through the list of "shoulds".  As my practice has deepened I've softened a lot of rigidity around that and now do my best to let my body guide me where it needs to go for the day.  I find there is a lot more healing this way, letting my body speak to me and deciding to listen.

 

• Outside time. Having less bright sun time affects me, as it does many of us.  So It is super important to get time outside each day to breath in fresh air and take in some light.  Those of you who know me well might laugh at this because you know I'm not a big fan of the cold. I'll admit it gets more difficult for me to be outside when the temperature drops.  But it helps to take in even a few breaths outside, away from the stale indoor air.  

 

• Mini-Breaks.  This year I've learned to set an alarm to remind myself to take a break!. On "good" days I like to take about 15 minutes. I choose from a selection of practices that I find restorative--usually a mini-body scan or a reconnection with my breath. Sometimes a whole 15 minutes don't happen--but even 5 minutes of a favorite breath technique helps bring me back to the present moment and feeling more relaxed.

 

• Yoga Nidra or progressive relaxation practice.  Yes, this is a daily practice for me.  I practice in the morning, but it that can be done at any time during the day.  Yoga Nidra has really helped me develop a deeper understanding of where my own internal layers of tension reside. It is a SUPER way to feel restored. There are many practices available on the web or you can find CDs to use for practice.  I offer a free 20-minute progressive meditation practice that you can find here:  https://www.hearttreeyoga.com/resources.html  And of course, look for upcoming announcements about full-length Yoga Nidra class offerings in 2018!  It is so nice to experience an in-person practice--give you a feeling of really pampering yourself!  

I encourage you to explore some restorative practices of your own.  Often our lives are go-go-go, particularly now. And, the body needs some kindness if it is going to keep serving us the best way it can.  This is super important for wellbeing.  Be good to yourself. 


HEART TREE YOGA’s   
2017 HOLIDAY SPECIAL

GIVE THE UNIQUE GIFT OF GREATER HEALTH AND WELLBEING!
 
Heart Tree Yoga is offering a special 3-session holiday gift package. Help someone you love (or yourself!) experience more strength and freedom in 2018 as you emerge into a healthier and more balanced YOU!

• Want to reduce physical pain, strain, or tension?
• Crave support that helps you find greater body-mind-spirit strength and resilience from where you are right now?
• Wish to find greater calm and deeper peace?

Self-care investment: 

Just $165 for 3 sessions (60 minute)
 Gift certificates available.

Sessions can be held in your home, in our Vienna-based home studio, or via Skype. 



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