Happy New Year to YOU in 2022!
I love the energy of the new year. I can feel it in the air. There’s the palpable excitement of a new beginning, an opportunity to be your best, and a fresh start. This year feels different, though. With all that we have been through with the Covid pandemic, this year’s energy feels a bit more complicated. Many of us are tired, lonely, and exhausted. The thought “when will this pandemic ever end?” is present, and I can feel it. Our personal and collective experience can’t be denied. The good news is that each of us can individually recognize and acknowledge our feelings. When we are accountable for ourselves personally we increase our resilience and we can proactively move forward collectively.
YES, WE CAN experience empowerment, reinvigoration, and joy! Together let’s explore several ways to harness the energy of the new year and be self-empowered.
1. Commit to a daily practice of meditation or deep relaxation.
I love meditation and deep relaxation and do both almost every day. There are numerous benefits for your health. Physically, these benefits include lower blood pressure and an overall reduction in stress and anxiety. Mentally, you’re clearing out tension, holding, and outdated thought patterns. Spiritually, you’ll experience clarity, revitalization, and inspiration.
There are so many types of mediation and approaches to deep relaxation, but you can demystify these practices and make them accessible and approachable for you. Make it easy. Either sit in a comfortable position or lie down somewhere quiet. Simply notice the feeling of your breath—the rise of the breath in your body and the release of the breath from your body. Noticing the movement of the breath will lead you into your body. The breath is like a wave moving through your body. Notice the feeling of your whole body.
As you notice your body, you may then tune into your energy and the feeling of your energy. Are you aware of thoughts floating through your mind, like clouds? These thoughts often produce feelings in your body. You don’t need to either believe or resist your thoughts, simply notice them and the feelings they produce. No resistance, no judgment, and no effort to try to change your thoughts and feelings. Simply notice, acknowledge, and recognize your actual now experience. Keep the practice simple, simple, simple. Continually return to the feeling of your breath, your body, and your energy. Make this practice part of your daily life. Feel the energy and ride the wave of that feeling.
2. Show up for you.
Be free with yourself but also be consistent. Figure out what kind of sleep schedule you need in order to wake up for your mediation or deep relaxation practice! I love waking up and meditating in bed. If you are busy and have a stressful schedule, your mind, body, and spirit need calm. Give that to yourself when you wake up, even if it’s for five minutes. Just lay in bed, breathe, and relax. Be consciously present with yourself. If you miss a day or two, get good at not hassling yourself about it, but do notice the effect on your energy. Choose to do what improves the quality of your energy. Get back into your mediation or deep relaxation practice as soon as you are able. You will begin to feel inspired into movement. Feel that impulse to move and enjoy the joyful energy that springs forth from within you.
3. Have boundaries.
Get to know what you need to live a healthy, wholesome, joy-filled life, and then do those things! Say yes to going to bed early, to limiting your time on social media, to eating healthy food that increases your energy, and to being with people who love, respect, and honor you. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and do something a little scary to learn and grow as a beautiful and lovely human being. Say no to the people, places, and habits that diminish your energy. Every single person on this planet is worthy of unconditional love, kindness, and respect, and if you are receiving anything else, that is a no bueno situation—get out of there. However, we can all learn and grow from even the most unpleasant situations. If you encounter something challenging or stressful, questions to ask yourself in your journal or yoga book would include
· In this difficult situation, what would I do differently, if anything?
· What have I learned from this challenge?
· What have I received from this trauma?
· How do I want to be in the world as a result of these challenges and traumas?
Growth can take time, though, so be patient with yourself and trust your process. Don’t give up your practice. Return to yourself over and over again. Do what works; don’t do what doesn’t work. Keep on keepin’ on. Practice smiling for no reason at all. Allow the smile to happen on your lips, in your heart, and even in your tummy. Let your whole body smile.
4. Journal.
I have both a journal and a yoga book. Sometimes my yoga book, where I record my home practice and my classes, looks a bit like a journal. However, I like that my journal is specifically there for me to write down my thoughts, feelings, ideas, inspirations, hurts, hopes, and everything else. I want to learn and grow and be the best person I can be. Using my journal, I connect with myself and document how I feel. Knowing that I am doing my best to be accountable for myself makes me feel even better. Writing down how I feel can make a big difference in my day. Honestly, it’s the difference between walking around like a bottle full of thoughts and feelings and being a clear presence that’s receptive and responsive to life. Journaling fosters self-awareness. Self-awareness is key to self-growth, peace, and being an active coparticipant in the movement of life.
5. Be brave and trust yourself.
It can be so easy to doubt yourself and take the path of least resistance. Repeating habits can work against you, or they can work for you! It all depends on the habit. Personally, I want to be consistent with the habit of meditation, deep relaxation, yoga, cardio exercise, and eating healthy. This makes good, rational sense, but it can be tempting to get sucked into a different direction that distracts from our positive habits. Deep relaxation, yoga, and meditation have helped me to develop sensitivity to what feels right. These practices work to clear your mind and body of anything that keep you feeling stuck. You’ll then begin to feel more clear, receptive, and sensitive to what “rightness” feels like, when something is working for your greater benefit.
Often, it feels like bravery is required to trust yourself. My teacher Erich Schiffmann taught me to pause, breathe, and relax. When you are relaxed, doing what feels best makes total sense. Life becomes way more fun and exhilarating. Then it’s like “WOW, what now?” Once you have asked or inquired silently within, you will receive an answer. You may become aware of information you didn’t even know you needed to know! Learning to trust yourself is something to practice patiently and peacefully throughout your whole life. Yoga, or conscious union with the actual now moment, is an ongoing lifestyle choice. Continue to show up for yourself and be your own best friend no matter what!
Please join me Saturday, January 9 at 10 am Central at yogaview in Chicago or online for my special New Year’s Yoga Celebration! Go to my website aliemcmanus.com or yogaview.com to register. I am also excited to offer a new monthly Yoga Support and Continuing Education Course called Yoga for Life.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in person or online in 2022! Let’s have fun, breathe, and enjoy exploring yoga together.
Namaste, you guys,
Alie