5 Minute Holiday Break

Yoga Corner
Lying Down Relaxation

This pose is a great way to de-stress during the holidays! Take a 5 minute break to recenter and collect yourself. Your sanity (and family) will thank you! ;-)

Step 1: Lie on your back. Add a small blanket under your neck and a rolled blanket under your knees if you like. Rub your palms together and then place the palms of your hands over your eyes. Consciously take several slow, deep breaths. Feel as if the warmth from your hands is melting any tension around your eyes. Allow your eyes to deeply relax as your breath. Notice how your mind slows down as your breath slows down.

Step 2: Place your hands on your abdomen. Invite your breath to gradually deepen into your belly. The breath has its own natural rhythm. There is no need to force the breath. Simply place your attention on your abdomen and the breath will follow.   Feel your breath traveling through your heart space and down into your belly. Feel the area around your heart softening and your abdomen relaxing as your breath. 

Step 3: Release your arms to rest about 45 degrees from your body, with your palms up. Continue to follow the rhythm of your breath as it moves through the space of your mind, down through your heart, and into your belly. Then follow the flow of the breath back out. Be with the connection of the mind, heart, and belly as you breath. Allow your body to relax deeply as your attention is connected with the flow of the breath.

Breathe in this way for 5-10 minutes. This is a great way to end a yoga or meditation practice and can also be a practice within itself. Take care of yourself with a daily breathing break!