It’s not uncommon to have a case of the winter blues, especially during this time of the year. The bitter cold can prevent the gamut of outdoor activities that you may participate in over the summer months of the year, and the shorter days can make it feel impossible to get anything done while the light of the sun still shines with motivation and energy on your face. Many people find themselves in a slump during this strange time of year, but you don’t have to be.
Two activities I’ve found myself leaning into in order to cope with the winter blues are meditation and yoga. Now, the idea of meditation and yoga could invoke a variety of different reactions when you first hear it. I can’t concentrate long enough to meditate, or, yoga is just something weird that I would never do. I get that; I’ve had those same thoughts before. Although meditation and yoga can seem intimidating or strange at first, these activities can be fun, relaxing, rejuvenating, and beneficial to you!
Meditation can be done in many different ways. One way is guided meditation, which is often done with an instructor, whether you are in person with someone, or perhaps over the phone via YouTube video (the way I’ve been meditating). You can be guided with words, imagery, and even scents if you desire. These elements that are incorporated can bring relaxation or comfort to the person meditating, which can clear your head of negative thoughts and anxieties. An online resource that I’ve found to be useful and that was recommended to me by my doctor when discussing meditation is an app called “FitOn”. This app has an array of different types of workouts and exercises but also features a special, separate section for meditation and yoga instruction.
Another way to meditate is called “mindfulness meditation,” which is more focused on being present in your body, and being aware of your surroundings. You often focus on feeling each individual part of your body, as well as observing your breathing. While in this type of meditation, you can reflect upon your emotions and thoughts, and be in a mindset to feel them in order to eventually let them pass. This meditation is especially helpful if you are feeling frustrated with a slump that you are in, or maybe you are struggling with sadness or anxiety. This meditation enables you to let go, and just be present in your body and mind. To begin meditating in this way, you can use a YouTube video that guides you through the process until you remember how to do it by yourself.
Once you’ve become comfortable with meditation, it can be helpful to add yoga to the mix (or vice versa-yoga first and then meditation). Yoga is a practice that originated in India and has been practiced by people all over the world for thousands of years. It creates a union between mind and body through doing different physical poses as well as controlled/observed breathing. The focus that it takes to do yoga can bring great relief from stress, lower blood pressure, and lower heart rate. When done right, yoga can almost “silence” your mind, allowing for tranquility and a feeling of peace.
Not only can yoga improve your mental health and wellbeing, but it can also improve your physical health. As I previously mentioned, it can decrease high blood pressure and heart rate. Yoga can lower your risk for chronic diseases and even heart disease. It can also help to manage pain around your body and relieve symptoms of insomnia, arthritis, and even, to my surprise, asthma. Along with that, it helps to build strength around your body and improves flexibility, balance, and range of motion if practiced enough.
Incorporating meditation and yoga into your daily routine can be beneficial to your physical and mental health, and it can be nice to just have a routine that you stick to. Whether you attend a class with a certified instructor or watch instructional videos online, it can have great benefits for you. So if you’re feeling the winter blues weighing you down during this time of the year, or you just want to focus on bettering yourself and feeling at ease in a stressful time, you should definitely consider trying meditation and yoga.
Check out the FitOn app:
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