Three Ways to Keep Your Heart Open Through the Holidays

Oh, how these festive days can make our hearts lose touch with their own softness.

One of the hardest lessons we keep learning (again, and again, and again…) is just how essential self-care is—especially during the holiday season.

With packed calendars and high expectations (not to mention all the glittering parties we dash around town for), we often give up the very practices that keep us grounded and open.

Could you glance at your schedule right now—in this very moment, while we’re here together—and carve out a five, ten, or fifteen minute window each day to tend to your own heart?

Now that we’ve set the time aside—whether you’re swept up in the season’s joy, feeling a touch of melancholy only the holidays can bring, or quite possibly a mix of everything—here are three ways to care for that brave heart of yours, in any given moment.

1. Clear the Space

The few minutes you claim for yourself are sacred and deserve to be honored as such.

One thing I do to return to my centre is smudge my home with sage—it takes only a moment and has a way of instantly reconnecting my thinking-heart to my feeling-heart.

Whether you’re feeling holiday jitters, have carried something in from the outside world that just won’t let go, or want to create a ritual to prepare for your other practices (maybe even the ones below!), clearing the space with smudge is a good place to start.

Not sure where to start? This might help.

2. Try the Heart Dance

Once you’ve set space and intention, it’s time to move.

That might mean coming to yoga or cranking up your favourite song-of-the-moment and dancing around the house in your underwear until you can’t dance anymore—but I have something almost as joy-filled and definitely more adventurous.

It’s called The Heart Dance—created by Gil Hedley, an inspiring somanaut and anatomist—and it’s a movement-based interpretation of how blood flows through the heart.

This five-minute video will get your heart thumping and pumping while giving you a kinesthetic sense of how your magical heart works.

Ready?

Here you go!

3. Find Stillness

You’ve smudged, you’ve moved, and now it’s time for stillness.

Part of holding the magic of this season is learning to surrender into it—so create a shape that feels just right for where your body is in this moment.

Take a few breaths until you feel yourself settle.

Okay?

Now press play—I’ve recorded a little something for your cheering heart:

With love and heart roars.

Bryonie

Join Bryonie for All levels Flow Yoga on Thursdays at 3:30pm