How to Use Yoga to Combat Christmas Stress, Overwhelm & Family Tensions
The festive season brings joy, but it can also come with its fair share of stressors—whether it’s navigating family dynamics, recovering from work parties , or simply feeling overwhelmed by a full schedule. Yoga offers a way to stay grounded, centered, and resilient, helping you enjoy the season more fully.
Here’s how a few mindful practices can support you in tackling the season’s trickiest moments.
1. Soothe Holiday Hangovers with Gentle Yoga
Late nights and a few extra toasts can sometimes leave you feeling less than your best. Luckily, certain yoga poses can aid in digestion, reduce nausea, and bring you back to a state of balance.
Suggested Poses: Gentle twists like Seated Spinal Twist can help detoxify, while Child’s Pose and Legs Up the Wall can calm the nervous system and improve circulation.
Breathwork: Practicing deep belly breathing can help alleviate nausea and improve oxygen flow to the brain, easing headaches.
For poses and breathwork to ease the body and mind, join my Wednesday Relaxation Yoga or Sunday Chill Out classes this month. I’ll take you through the above and more, helping to restore a sense of balance this month.
2. Navigate Family Tensions with Mindful Breathing
Gathering with family can be joyful—but it can also bring up old dynamics and, at times, tension. Yoga offers tools to stay calm, compassionate, and centered, no matter what family drama may arise.
Breathwork: Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) is perfect for finding calm amidst emotional stress, helping you balance your mood and stay level-headed.
Grounding Poses: Poses like Mountain Pose and Tree Pose encourage stability and calm. Standing poses can also help you feel more confident and resilient in challenging conversations.
For a break from the chaos, cooking and each other, book Friday Gentle Yoga or Saturday Simply Stretch this month. In just an hour, you’ll reset your mind and patience levels so you’re ready to be there for everyone again.
3. Beat the Winter Blues with Energising Sequences
Darker days and colder temperatures can impact energy levels and mood, leaving some of us feeling lethargic or even a little down. Incorporating an energising yoga practice into your day can be a great mood booster.
Suggested Poses: Sun Salutations to increase energy flow and boost mood, Backbends like Camel Pose to lift your spirits, and Warrior Poses to build strength and confidence.
Mindfulness: Close with a few moments of mindfulness or gratitude practice to focus on the positives of the season.
To inspire you to keep up the practice when the calendar fills up, book 3 classes for £40 this month. Just one class a week is still enough to keep you feeling good.
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4. Practice Gratitude and Intention Setting to Stay Present
Amidst the busyness, it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning behind the season. Yoga encourages you to stay present, grounded, and grateful, which can transform your holiday experience into one of mindfulness and joy.
Gratitude Meditation: Begin or end your practice with a short gratitude meditation, focusing on something you’re thankful for.
Intention Setting: Take a few moments in Savasana to set an intention for how you want to experience the season—whether it’s with joy, patience, or presence.
In every class we practice gratitude and what better a way to take this into the new year than with a gift of yoga? Right now, I’m offering a complimentary 1:1 yoga session with yoga gifts to help you realise your goals in 2025. Have a peak at my yoga gifts.
With these tools, you can move through the holidays with a renewed sense of calm, resilience, and self-care. Whether you’re dealing with the aftereffects of a festive night, navigating tricky family dynamics, or looking to beat the winter blues, yoga is here to support you.