There is a yoga teacher saying that does the rounds at this time of year which usually appears at the end of a Christmas yoga class. Along the lines of……

……“And remember, as you are opening your presents, take time to be present”.

You’ve probably heard it before but it’s worth a reminder. In this age of never switching off it’s very hard to maintain a present mind and to focus entirely on the moment. We are bombarded with emails and texts, Snapchat messages and Facebook notifications, almost on a constant basis. How many times have you been speaking to someone and not felt you had their full attention (how many times have you been guilty of this)?

So for a more harmonious family Christmas, switch off, tune out and power down. Be present, make connections and treasure the little moments. These are the things that become memories.

And as we pass the winter solstice and start thinking about the end of year and the start of a new one, take time to reflect. Globally it’s been a strange year – some big unexpected events and some sad departures – and it’s easy to focus on the negatives. But I encourage you to take some time to take stock of your own personal journey this year. What have been the best bits? What have you learnt? What did the challenges you faced teach you about yourself?

And what do you want to manifest in the forthcoming year? How can you make this happen? Do we need to shed negative habits and thought processes, and how can we make positive changes and create new habits? Maybe just take a moment to count your blessings and feel grateful.

Lots of questions but worth taking time to reflect and see the bigger picture.

And if all else fails and you find the festive season draining or stressful, then just take some time out to ground yourself, breathe through the difficult times, let go of expectations and find some loving kindness for yourself, your friends and family (yes even the difficult ones) and for those who are way less fortunate than ourselves.

Thank you for your continued support and your friendship.

Merry Christmas, and here’s hoping for a happy, peaceful and healthy 2017. Namaste, Rachael