HOLIDAY CHILL

I know. It should be automatic, this breathing thing that our bodies do, right? But how often have you caught yourself holding it all in… or breathing so shallowly that you remembering Lamaze? Well, here to help us get grounded and catch our breath – literally – is Kimberly Bonde, RN, acupuncturist and busy woman herself! Listen in:

“For me the holiday season is always evocative of childhood memories. One of my favorite chores involved polishing my great grandmother’s silver tea set. As we prepared for holiday entertaining we made it shine by following a simple, precise ritual  – rinsing with warm water, rubbing on and off thick Gorham’s silver cleaning paste and careful drying. The first piece always took longer to do than the others…but in time I’d establish a rhythm. These memories of silver polishing have some pointers for helping each of us to move more elegantly and easily through the holiday season.

Remember to just BREATHE!

By profession I’m an acupuncturist. In addition to performing individually useful treatments I educate and support women in making healthful connections between their bodies and their lives. The lungs are responsible for revitalization and rhythm in our lives. During times of stress and challenge – like the holidays – we often shorten our breath cycle, breath shallowly or even go through periods of holding our breath. Inhibiting our breathing results in an overall energy deficit. Instead of releasing stress and refreshing ourselves with our breathing we end up consuming energy during times when we need it most.

I’d like to offer a simple ritual that can help polish your inner silver to promote a more refreshed and radiant YOU this holiday season. Stop and take a few minutes to try this:

* Stand up straight. Relax both arms at your sides, shrug your shoulders, and roll your head around once or twice to relax your neck.

• Next, place the palm of your right hand on your navel. Place the palm of your left hand at the top of your chest so that your thumb and index finger touch your collarbones.

• Close your eyes. Take a slow deep breath – feel your chest rise against your left hand. Continue your inhalation so that you also feel your right hand rise as your upper abdomen also fills with air.

• Gently hold your breath for a count of 4. Begin to exhale, releasing your breath from below your right hand first, gradually finish by feeling your left hand fall back deeper against your chest.

• Repeat this sequence 5 times. Create a gentle, rolling rhythm of your breath entering and leaving your chest and upper abdomen.

Receive refreshment from each inhalation cycle; consciously release frustration and ‘too much to do and not enough time’ with each exhalation cycle.

Simple steps like this breathing exercise can be used to support an easier, much less stressful experience of the holidays. Take a few moments each day to truly breathe so that you sparkle this season.”

Meet Kimberly