It’s no secret, the holidays are upon us!
Although this season is filled with joy and thankfulness, November and December can be equally filled with busyness and stress. It can be especially difficult to maintain a healthy routine of exercise and rest without either losing the joy of the holidays or giving up healthy routines.
However, we at Today Pilates want to equip you with tools to help you have greater peace, greater joy, and maintained movement practices through this season.
Here are three things to think about as we head into November and December!
Set an Intention for the Season
Whether you’re planning a holiday meal or planning your workout schedule, the mind is where it all begins. As we go into the holidays, pick a word or a thought to focus on throughout the month. Is your holiday season going to be about Finding Joy in the Little Things? How about Settling Down? Maybe you want to think more about Gentleness with yourself and others. You could even set an intention to find a moment of Stillness every day! Whatever you choose, try to stick to your intention. However, if things don’t line up with your intention every single day, that’s okay! Just keep moving in the same direction! This practice can help you to focus on the things that you want to focus on instead of getting swept away by the hecticness of the holidays.
Find a Sustainable Routine for the Holiday Season
Finding a routine can be a very helpful coping mechanism during the holidays. Having something stable in your day can be really anchoring in a chaotic environment. The most important thing about your routine is sustainability. Make sure it is simple enough to stick to! Whether your routine involves reading a Bible passage, taking a walk while the weather is still nice, or practicing Pilates a few times per week, a solid routine can help you to move through the rest of the day in a more grounded, peaceful manner.
Have a Peaceful Hour of Pilates!
Here at Today Pilates, we believe in consistency. Staying consistent in our Pilates practice is essential for all of our teachers here at the studio, especially as we get busy with the holidays. Movement is very cathartic and is a good way to relieve stress. Hence, in addition to providing a nice routine for two or three days a week, Pilates helps us settle physically, emotionally, and mentally in a crazy season. We understand your schedule is different this time of year, and our teachers are very willing to be flexible around your schedule. However, we also want to help you do what is best for you, which can include staying faithful to your Pilates practice, especially in a hectic time. In addition, you can do some movement at home! If you don’t have an at-home movement practice already, talk with your teacher about small Pilates-related exercises to help you keep moving through the holidays!
Happy Exercising!