How to Enjoy Happy, Healthy Holidays

Thanksgiving is in a few weeks and the December festivities begin shortly thereafter. The season can be a time of great fun and celebration. It can also be a time of flu outbreaks, dark days, deadlines, holiday stress and overeating. Here is a simple breath awareness exercise to help you transcend the seasonal blues and feel great.

Take a “thinking break” and tune into your breathing.

Start by sitting comfortably in a quiet place. As you breathe naturally, turn your awareness to one place the breath moves through your body. It could be your nose, chest or belly. As thoughts arise, allow them to pass. Continue returning your awareness to the breath, again and again.

That’s it. You can practice this exercise anywhere, anytime. No special equipment or training is necessary. You can start with a couple of minutes once or twice a day, then increase the time as you grow more comfortable. Twenty minutes is often recommended. What’s most important is doing the exercise regularly, using whatever amount of time you have.

It is incredibly refreshing to take a break from thinking. I use this breath awareness exercise to quiet my mind and experience my inner senses. I notice many benefits, including increased patience and productivity, deeper sleep, and finer intuition. The exercise has various other benefits, such as reduced stress, greater focus and creativity, and a pervasive sense of peace. Over time, you’ll also begin to gain a better understanding of your own identity as you deepen your connection with your essence.

What do you notice when you try this breath awareness exercise? What other tools help keep you calm and centered? Please comment below.