OM for the Holidays

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has arrived. And while we’re out there prepping + preparing + shopping, let us not forget some of the best gifts we can give to our self and others.

Time.

Give yourself the gift of time. Spend that time doing something that fills you up. When our hearts are full, we have more love to give, less stress and more energy. It’s so easy to get caught up in the high energy the holiday season can bring, so take a moment and do that thing that sets your soul on fire.

Compassion.

For yourself. Your family. Your coworkers. The strangers you meet in the busy stores. Know that everyone is doing the very best they can to make the holidays magical. So offer up a gesture of kindness to everyone you meet—give a smile to the retail worker, hold the door for someone with his or her arms full, say “thank you” to your mailman. The simplest acts of kindness can make a world of difference in someone’s day.

Presence.

Put your phone down. Turn off your tablet. Take off your smartwatch. And BE where you are in that moment. Whether you’re in a yoga class or sitting with your family, give yourself permission to take a step away from work and social media. Be fully immersed in the life that’s happening right there in front of you.

The one thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that material gifts come and go, but the things about the holidays that stick in my memory are the people, the laughs, the traditions, and the way this time of year makes me feel.

So carve out that time, show compassion to all, be present, and have the happiest of holidays.

Kristie Hass Splivalo, Studio Manager, Yoga on the Lake