Welcome back to Tranquility to Go! This new eight-week Healthy Holidays series is a fresh approach to experiencing the holidays in a more mindful and tranquil way. By paying attention to our breath, our bodies, the environment and those we love, we can stay connected to the beauty surrounding this special time of the year. This week’s dose sets the stage for staying tranquil during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
Breathing is a must-have accessory to the 5,000-year-old practice of yoga. While practicing the alternate nostril breath for the photo shoot, I immediately felt lighter, calmer more grounded — within a matter of seconds. This little gem comes in handy in all holiday situations. Sure you may have to excuse yourself from a public place, but just a few moments alone with this breath will prove fruitful. Follow these simple steps and enjoy having tranquility within reach — except for those cold-ridden. If you’re suffering from sinus congestion, wait until you feel well and can breathe fully through both nostrils to try it.
Let’s get started. Cometo a comfortable position and connect with your breath. Notice your inhale and your exhale. Place your right middle and index finger to your eyebrow center so that your thumb, ring, and pinky fingers are free. Close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale deeply through your left nostril. Close your left nostril with your ring finger, release the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril. Inhale through your right nostril and then close the right nostril to exhale through the left nostril. Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril to exhale through the right nostril. Continue this pattern back and forth until it feels natural. Then inhale to a count of 4, 5 or 6, and exhale evenly so that your breath becomes long, deep and smooth.
This simple breath technique can create calm in preparation for the holiday dramas — family, shopping, cooking, decorating, entertaining. Alternate nostril breathing balances both sides of the brain and assists with calming the mind and the nervous system. You can’t go wrong with this little tranquil tip.
Kimberly Wilson is the founder of Tranquil Space Yoga and Tranquil Space Foundation. Visit kimberlywilson.com.
