"New Year, Same You, Heightened Mind"
This article is written by Sky Corbett-Methot, Yoga to Cope’s Director of Holistic Health. Sky is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, CYA-RYT 500-hour Hatha yoga and meditation, and certified prenatal/postnatal yoga instructor.
Picture by @helloimnik
Ohhh snap y’all its a brand new year and Yoga to Cope is back to explore and experience it right along side you!
Did anyone else feel there was an immense amount of build up (online and otherwise) to this new year being a “magical restart button” to a ‘clean’ slate following what was one of the hardest, most challenging, years of our life so far?
A quick recap of what we have seen so far this January: Globally, a lot of countries, provinces and states have been faced with going into another lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We have also witnessed in a few countries the first wave of the COVID vaccination being administered.
We have witnessed an intense surge of invaders storm into the Capitol in Washington D.C., experienced the 45th President go through his second impeachment process, shortly after witnessing (through video only for the first time ever (not in person due to the pandemic)), the inauguration of the 46th President. My friends, that is a lot to take in, in just one month.
I invite you to breath, the weight of the world can be quite the burden but fortunately it doesn’t have to be.
So although its a new year, its the same you. Lets tackle this year by integrating the learning lessons of last year, using them in a way to “level up” and heighten our mindset. Leaning into the obstacles and strength we have discovered within ourselves.
Last year we learned the importance of slowing down, the importance of quality versus quantity (in many facets of life), and the necessity to prioritize your mental, emotional and physical health.
Take this year to set up some solid foundations in the realm of self-care to keep our mindset heightened.
Here are five quick daily rituals worth integrating every day to take care of yourself.
Wake up and drink a tall class of water with a squeeze of lemon. Hydration helps to clear the mind and the lemon helps to prepare the body for breaking its fast, once you do eat.
Write down three things (no matter how big or small) that you are grateful for.
Take five minutes to set up a timer and breath. We have a lot of recorded breathing meditations here.
Take five minutes to go outside and get some fresh air. (for those not in strict lockdown). Fresh air (not the same stale air flowing through the inside of your living quarters) is not only integral to your physical health (energy and body function), it is important for your nervous system health, as well as your mind! A change of scenery helps lift the spirits, and alleviate the brain fog.
Take five minutes to move. Walk/run/dance/do yoga etc. Throw on your favourite song and have an at home dance party, look up a 5 minute Tai Chi video. The possibilities here are endless so its suggested to have fun with it and be silly.
We invite you to prioritize YOU. Implementing your learning lessons from last year to keep a heightened mind, leveling up how you feel in this new year.