Self Care Isn't Selfish

Stress heightens pain and the habituated patterns that show up in our bodies. And we know that this time of year can be particularly stressful for many. Self care isn’t selfish you know and so we invite you to pay it forward to yourself this December – make self care your #1 priority.

This month plan little acts of love and kindness directed towards yourself. Yes you read that right, towards yourself!

There are many ways to do this, and here are some of our favourites. When we give to ourselves, we have more space, strength, love and joy to give to others.

Self Care Isn’t Selfish You Know

Try…

Listening to a guided yoga Nidra practice, or attend an On Demand Video class. A great recording for at home can be found on Spotify – Terry Oldfield & Soraya Saraswati.

Book your future self an hour off to take a luxurious soak in the tub, why not book the time out in your calendar? Create a spa experience. Prepare the space with candles, bath salts and music ahead of time so that all you need to do is show up, fill the bathtub with wonderfully warm water and relax while listening to your favourite music.

Drink warm lemon water on arising to detoxify and stimulate a healthy poop. Learn more about the power of this practice.

Give of your time to a charity or cause. When we give love, we receive love and feel abundantly full. Give just one hour or your time to someone, or something and do it with pure joy.

Explore connection with your body in a morning SomaYoga & Somatic movement practice – 15 minutes of Arch and Flatten, Back Lift and Diagonal Arch and Curl – You can follow along with our videos on ourVideo On Demand site.

Take a walk in nature. Breath deeply. Inhale lightness. Exhale and release into the earth whatever is weighing you down. Feel yourself getting lighter with each inhale. Allow yourself to release and ground with each exhale.

Close your eyes, and for 10-15 minutes connect with your breath, bring awareness to your essential self.

Allow the feeling of gratitude to fill your heart as you reflect on what you are grateful for in your life. Something as simple as clean air and water, connections with family and friends. Each day take 10-15 minutes to reflect on the things that you are grateful for. List them in a journal and pause to feel gratitude for each thing you list.

If you love to dance, dance. If you love to sing, sing. Do what makes your heart happy, even for a short time and notice how that affects your pain, state of mind and well-being.