5 Mindful Movements This holiday Season
Originally written November 20 2019
It’s the holiday season so whoop de doo…
I love the holiday season. I don’t know if it is the twinkly christmas lights, the cozy sweaters, the champagne or the family time. To me, it brings joy. I also recognize that it can be a stressful time of year. This year in particular, I have felt the stress from than I have had in the past. I think it is the combination of starting a new business, grieving through the holiday season and trying to fit everything in before taking a week off. There are so many thoughts I have on this but my thoughts on grief and starting a new business are for another time (and a much longer post).
Last year I wrote about 5 ways to stay more mindful this holiday season. This year, I want to talk a little but about 5 mindful movements this holiday season. I am currently hosting a 12 days of Fitmas in which each day the participants get a short workout right to their inbox. The workouts range from walking to running, yoga to rolling out, HIIT to trying new things. The goal of this challenge is to do a little bit of something everday.
A huge tenet of Live Good, Feel Good and a philosophy I have adopted over the years is:
A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing.
What does that mean? When you are stressed, when you are short on time, short on space, short on motivation, just do SOMETHING. It doesn’t have to be the workouts to end all workouts or the best sweat of your life. It just has to be something that feels good to YOU. Honestly, most times when you start you don’t want to stop and you end up getting a way better exercise mentally and physically than you planned. Doing something, one thing, that truly feels good in your body can really change the course of your day.
Invite more peace, more mindfulness, more love.
So this year, for the holiday season, I bring to you:
5 Mindful Movements: they don’t require a lot of space or time or even energy. They are ways to get in tune with your body and mind in order to create another level of awareness so you feel truly good in each day.
5 Mindful Movements for this Holiday Season:
Roll out with the Coregeous ball: The Yoga Tune up Coregeous ball is my favorite travel companion. I don’t know about you but digestive woes and constipation are an occasional (unwanted) travel companion. (sorry TMI but you know it’s true). Rolling out on the 75% inflated coregeous ball is great for the fascia of the abdomen and hips. It is also great for feedback to your diaphragm. I roll out on it almost everyday while traveling. IT also really helps me get in tune with what my body needs/wants and how my digestive tract is feeling. Watch this video to learn more about rolling out your abdomen and digestive tract.
Walk: Whether you’re in shape or out of shape, old or young, in perfect health or a work in progress (aren’t we all?), you can go for a walk. I remember as a kid when we went to Christmas at my Nanny’s house we would ALWAYS go for a walk between dinner and dessert to see the local c=Christmas decorations. Now, when I visit my boyfriends parents we walk each morning and almost each night. There is something about strolling through neighborhoods, old and new, and breathing in the scents and sounds of the place. It makes it a little more special and helps slow you down a little more.
Dance: Throw on some good music and dance with a loved one. Music helps communities connect, soothes the mind and body and is overall just fun. One of my favorite things in the whole world is when Chris and I drop everything while cooking dinner and dance to whatever song is on (I think the hopeless romantic in me feels like I am in a romcom). Whether you are dancing along, with a family or friends, throw on your favorite tunes and dance away. Good for your heart, soul and heart rate <3
Play: Play with kids, play with pets, play with your family. Don’t schedule exercise this holiday season, allow for play. Last year, the weather was pretty mild in New York so we took my godson and his brother outside to play football. What ensued was a lot more running then I had done in months prior to that (#fairweatherrunner). My family is blessed to have a lot of little tots running around so my holidays are usually filled with playing “airplane” with little ones and hide and seek, crawling on the floor and squatting down to pick up toy.s It’s not perfect exercise but it’s perfect of the holidays. No kids-- what about pets. I’m sure the pup would love to play catch after dinner. There is no wrong way to play, just have fun. No pets or kids-- go frolick! I just spent 10 minutes by myself splashing in the ocean at Palm Beach. No ocean? Go run in the snow like you are 5 years old again. Dance in the rain like it’s the best thing you’ve ever done. Commit to play.
Anything in Nature: Hike, bike, ski, walk, run, yoga, swim. The benefits of just sitting in Mother Nature are amazing. Add a little bit of movement and you have really outdone yourself for the day. Being in Nature and moving you body is one of the most therapeutic, relaxing, beneficial things you can do for yourself. So take a moment, or 10 or 20 and get outside. I plan on going for a long bike ride when I land in NY on Monday.
Movement does not need to be complicated. Mindfulness does not need to be complicated. By doing things that are fun and fully participating in these things you can perform mindful movements that fuels your mind, body and soul.
There is enough to worry about during the holiday season, don’t make exercise and movement on of them. Need a little help simplifying exercise this holiday season? Couple of fun options for you:
Mindful Movement for your Holiday Season:
Planksgiving 2022: WE START ON MONDAY, NOV 21st!
A seven day FREE plank challenge to teach you all about how to plank with good form and great progressions. Sign up here!
Ski Prep 101: Always open for enrollment, Sign up here!
A weekly training program, including:
Three 45-minute strength workouts, adapted specifically for your home environment
One 45-60 minute yoga class
One myofascial release video
Cardio Recommendations
One Breathwork session to optimize cardiac output on the slopes and to connecting mind, body & breath.
3. City to Summit The Foundation: always open for enrollment, Sign up here!
This 4-Week course will prepare you to climb that mountain! Get in shape for hiking, improve outdoor performance, and prevent injury ALL FROM HOME. This is one of the only programs that targets hiking preparation from all angles.
4. Holistic Fitness program : available for 3 spots for DECEMBER 2022!
This service is a monthly service
Each month includes a 50 minute introduction video call
Within 48 hours, you will receive a 4 week program to fit your needs.
Each month, we check in, review the past program, make adjustments and celebrate YOU!
This requires at least a 2 month commitment because let’s be real, real change takes time.