Now that the rush of Xmas excitement is over, how do you feel in your skin?

I know for me, when life gets overscheduled and busy, I dis-embody.

I process life mostly in my head, intellectualizing anything and everything. I literally am not aware of anything below my neck, unless, of course, there’s pain – I will zero on that pain, imagining all sorts of catastrophic scenarios in my head.

That is when existential anxiety starts to set in. Before I know it,

Sleep gets mangled.

Focus requires super-human effort: what took 20 minutes before, now takes forever.

Breathing gets stuck.

Body – wide pain returns.

Things that I once adored feel like a chore.

I feel depleted, like I am running on vapor...

I’ve learned that the only way out of this predicament is to steady myself in my own skin – out of the mind and into the body. Easy enough to say; way more challenging to practice - especially when the mind spins out of control.

Yet, this is exactly what yoga delivers.

No, I m not perfect, and I don’t practice every day. Some weeks I practice more than others.

And when life gets particularly crazy (this year delivered many turds!) I tuck my mat away.

I tell myself I don’t have time…

Luckily, practice isn’t about perfect. It is about practicing…

It took me a very long time, but I’ve learned to use discomfort of anxiety and feelings of disconnect as a cue to get back to the mat.

To re-commit to my breath,

To feel my body move,

To stop spinning my mental wheels, and right myself onto the solid track.

January is a great time to stop skidding.