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The Gift
The Gift
The holiday season can be a time of great joy and happiness;
yet it can also be very draining. Read this month’s article
on how to maintain the spirit of the season without being overwhelmed
by it.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! …or is it?
The holiday season can be a real test of our yogic ideals. Advertisements
bombard us with holiday shopping ideas, the clock ticks on as we
scramble to complete our Christmas list. We run from one holiday
party to the next, we buy and buy, we build our expectations for
a wonderful holiday season and rip through the last month of the
year until we wind up in the middle of January run down and braced
against the looming, dark months of winter.
Of course this does not mean that there aren’t wonderful
elements to this time of year. Family gatherings, the music and
theater shows available, the generosity of so many people are the
epitome of the Spirit of the Season. Yet it can also be a time of
deep disappointment with all the external demands of parties and
gift giving, as well as failed expectations and hopes for the December
holidays and the New Year. This is the time of year when our senses
are assaulted, our resources are taxed, our obligations run high.
It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle, to lose our center
and awareness and to have this amazing time for connection and reflection
pass us by.
Of course, this theme of running around and losing our awareness
is not particular to the holiday season. For most of us, coming
back to our awareness and breath in each moment is a daily practice
that requires attention and commitment. Yet when much is demanded
of us and we come to the end of our energies, it is difficult to
maintain the motivation and discipline necessary for regular practice.
Finding and sustaining the spirit and energy needed to continue
working toward our goals can become a huge obstacle; yet this persistence
in our practice is a key element for development and growth.
So how do we retain our center? Where do go when we have no will
and every task is taxing? How do we become inspired when we are
low? How do we get caught up in the beauty and inspiration of this
season without being controlled by it, much less carry that beauty
and inspiration throughout the year?
Perhaps the first step in dealing with malaise is to first accept
the situation. It is difficult to surrender to these moments since
they are not pleasant states to be in—especially when our
surroundings and our desires tell us to be otherwise. Yet by resisting
these moments, we cloud our ability to see the source of the situation
and therefore prolong our ability to be free of it.
The next step is to allow freedom from expectations—both
of ourselves and of our situation. It is difficult to allow ourselves
to do less, to say no to invitations, to let go of obligations;
yet in this ability to choose, we can find great freedom and refreshment.
Sometimes an engaging ashtanga class is needed to cleanse the body
and reinvigorate the mind; other times a session of deep breathing
and restorative poses is what is needed. Perhaps quiet time with
a favorite book, inspiring poetry or comforting music will refresh
the soul. Maybe a hike in the woods or a talk with a close friend
will begin to recharge the spirit. There is no right or wrong answer;
it is merely a matter of listening to what is appropriate in each
moment.
Take a look at the demands being placed on your time and energy
and evaluate what sort of effect is being produced. Anything that
causes the breath to constrict, the mind to race, the body to tighten
will drain already low resources. Things that fill the heart, relax
the body, and calm the mind will enrich and recharge you. There
are always options—from moving back deadlines, to asking for
help, to letting go of commitments. The answer will become clear
as you listen to what the benefits and drawbacks are for each moment;
then you can see what will be most beneficial for you and make your
choice.
During periods of heaviness or neediness, go into the breath. It
is the most healing thing we can do for ourselves as we draw in
prana, the life energy. Continue to come back to even, deep breaths.
Allow space to forget, and then enjoy each moment when you remember.
Go into the body and release tension. Feel the muscles release in
your calves and thighs. Feel the pelvis spread and the belly expand
as you inhale and exhale. Follow the breath up and down the torso,
releasing any holding or resistance. Let the breath massage behind
the eyes, soothe the mind and heal you. Come into the now and be.
This process is just another level of coming to know yourself.
These down times can be unsettling, but they can also be a wonderful
period of learning about how you think, react and feel, about what
kind of effect situations and thoughts have on your sense of well-being.
By becoming friends with difficult situations, they become a part
of the cycle of life, a time for reflection and rejuvenation instead
of a time to be feared and resisted. By continuing to place one
foot in front of the other, one step at a time, we will continue
to move toward our goals and will once again find inspiration whether
we are running, walking or being carried by a friend. Happy Holidays.
Heather Antonissen, December 2002
You can write to Heather at heather@yogaisyouth.com
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