Between the stress, the family, the abundant food, and the pressure to create a magical time, it’s no wonder so many of us lose our inner peace during the holiday season.
I thought if anyone would know how to navigate this tricky time in a yogic way (and I mean that term broadly and philosophically, not simply the asanas), it would be Kino MacGregor.
A longtime and popular Miami yogi who was certified to teach Ashtanga yoga directly by founder Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Kino recently wrote a book that speaks to this very topic: The Yogi Assignment: A 30 Day Program for Bringing Practice and Wisdom to Your Everyday Life. She also recently started an online yoga channel, OmStars.
I asked Kino (a fellow South Floridian) to reflect on how we all can have a more yogic holiday. Below is our wonderful (excerpted and edited) conversation:
Meryl: We get so busy this time of year, I think it’s easy to forget the actual meaning of the holidays. Agree?
Kino: Yes. We need to remember that it’s called the holidays because it’s a time of religious focus, which makes it the perfect opportunity to connect with the eternal spirit in each of us. Accessing this deepest eternal truth is the purpose of the holiday season, and also the purpose of yoga. This is also the time to gather with the people you love and to remember what’s really important in life. Love is what unites families—and all of humanity.
Meryl: One of the biggest challenges for a lot of people is dealing with difficult relatives you may not see all year, but who show up at the celebrations.
Kino: If you’re sitting next to your weird uncle, and you notice you’re focusing on how strange he is, use that opportunity to be present and to share love. Keep asking yourself, “What is my intention in each moment,” and keep your thoughts and conversation aligned with that.
Meryl: I read something you wrote about the importance of “feeling what you’re feeling.” Can you elaborate, especially how it relates to the holidays?
Kino: People think holidays are supposed to be fabulous, but they can also be difficult times. Whether it’s the loss your family has suffered of someone who isn’t at the celebration, or the sadness that you’re alone when you don’t want to be, grief comes up during the holiday period. Rather than run away or cover it up, drop down and tune in and feel it. To be awake to the quality of all sensations, pleasurable or painful, is a gift. Yoga is about freedom—the freedom to be who we are in the present moment.
Meryl: Are there any yamas or niyamas—the ethical guidelines of yoga—that you think are especially pertinent for this time of year?
Kino: As we become consumers during the holidays, ahimsa (nonviolence) is a great one to practice. I think it’s important to research the brands you buy: What philosophies, and what actions, are you supporting by making those purchases? The same is true with food: maybe reconceptualize one of the classic holiday dishes to be plant-based, like making a green-bean casserole without ham if you traditionally cook it that way, or without butter and dairy to make it vegan.
Meryl: How do you advise people to not let the stress of the season draw us from our peaceful center?
Kino: I recommend keeping your sense of body awareness close at hand in stressful situations. If you’re standing in a long line, staying connected to your body will help you remain present and keep the stress away. Also, reconnect to your breath. Taking 10 deep yoga breaths anywhere, anytime will change you enough to recalibrate your reaction.
Meryl: With so much going on, is it even possible to maintain our yoga practice?
Kino: It certainly can be hard. That’s why I say to set the bar low, so you can celebrate your successes. Aim for 5 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Then if you find you can do a little more, go ahead.
If you’re traveling—or even if you just don’t want to brave all the shoppers on the road—instead of going to a yoga studio, consider taking a class online. This convenience is one reason I recently started my own online channel, OmStars. We have class series of all different lengths and styles, as well as yoga philosophy, meditation, vegan cooking courses, and more.
LEARN MORE ABOUT KINO, including her new book, her OmStars online channel, international workshops, and more on her website.
Meryl Davids Landau is the author of Enlightened Parenting: A Mom Reflects on Living Spiritually With Kids. Her previous book is the award-winning novel Downward Dog, Upward Fog (she is currently writing the sequel). She’s also been published in numerous magazines and websites, including O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, Vice.com, Yoga Journal, Glamour, Redbook, and more.
Watch Meryl’s 2 minute YouTube slideshow, “5 Tips for Being a More Enlightened Parent.”