Fun and a little stressful.  Many of us know the work of Marie Kondo, the queen of tidying up.  Keep what “sparks joy” and rid your space of the rest.  There is wisdom in this philosophy, for sure.  But instead of getting rid of stuff, what if we don’t buy it in the first place?

I grew up in Oklahoma and Holiday time was buy a bunch of stuff time.  Decorations, stuff for parties, random things to give people, disposable plates and utensils and cups for easy-to-clean-up parties.  I was just there last week and it pains me to say, from what I saw, things haven’t changed much.

I want to do better.

Buying things that end up in landfills, or the ocean, is something that bothers me now.  Until I committed to a more mindful and intentional life, with a vow to minimize the harm I do in the world as much as I can, I didn’t really think about it.  As we would say in Yoga, it wasn’t in my awareness.  But it is now, and once it is in there, you can’t just ignore it.

So, for Holiday gifts, why not a gift of wellness instead of stuff?  Cooking classes, studio or gym memberships, a weekend away, meditation coaching, and online wellness courses are all examples.  If you have a Partner or loved one who would like to participate in a wellness activity but struggles to find time due to kids or other obligations, maybe buy a package of classes and include a promise to do what it takes to free up the other to have time to do the activity.  A dual gift!
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​How are you doing with the end of daylight savings time last Sunday?  I know, as I teach in the studio during the evening, it is very noticeably dark.  And we had 3 snow storms in October!

As I am currently sitting in Whitefish, Montana (here to teach a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training weekend at sister studio Yoga Hive Montana) it is dark and cold.

Not that long ago, it was extremely difficult for our ancestors to get through the winter.  Winter was survival time!  So we, the resourceful humans, started to create rituals with light.  Leaves off the trees?  No problem, we will string them with lights.  Time for holiday celebration?  Lights on the house, candles in each window.  Winter holiday time?  Bake!  Have friends over for meals and parties.  Everyone gathers in the kitchen, the heart of the home, for warm food and love.  These rituals offered hope and light in the middle of the darkest season.

As I stare out into the darkness, I light a candle (yes, I bring a candle when I travel as part of my daily meditation ritual) and that brings me to my top tips to get through the darker, colder months.  One of my favorite Anne Frank quotes:

Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.

1. Candles!  One or many.  Bring candles into your daily routine and you will feel warmer.  I have a friend who does a once a week “brownout” with her family.  One night a week, they use the absolute minimum possible electricity.  Candles, storytelling, being together as a family, even reading by headlamp.  No TVs, devices, or running dishwasher, just the family spending time together. 
2. Watch the sunrise and the sunset.  Take a moment, quiet the mind, pause and simply breathe.  The sun is the force of life, and sun gazing as it sits next to the earth brings life energy within you.
3. Breathwork.  There are many techniques to stoke the inner fire.  Several long deep breaths through the right nostril brings warm sun-energy.  One of my favorite breathing techniques I learned in India is called Prakasha, or Breath of Light.  It is a more meditative breath practice that builds energy.  Sitting tall, close your eyes and bring your awareness to light in and around you.  Inhale in seven short parts through the nose to create one full inhalation.  Direct the breath and light up to your third eye.  Hold the breath in as long as comfortable and exhale gently through the nose in one part.