Here are 5 somatic Feldenkrais tips for holiday stress relief!

Somatics is all about the perception of yourself, and there’s nothing quite like the holidays to bring out the best or the worst in all of us. Here are some tips to nurture the best in yourself and others.

Set good boundaries for your level of energy, time, and desire. 

Some years you might feel like hosting a huge gathering, other years you might really benefit from a quiet holiday. You have the right to adjust your level of energy output, but make sure you’re not expecting others to be a mind-reader! 

You can manage other people’s expectations of you by first slowing down and listening internally to what you need, so that you can communicate your boundaries and let others know you might be doing things differently this year. You might not be able to make everyone happy, but in the end, it’s ok to disappoint people if you have been clear in your communication and intentions. Practice saying no to extra events that you know will stress you out, rather than make you feel the holiday spirit. 

Release yourself from perfectionism. 

The “Christmas Miracle” sets a high bar for all of us during this season. Many struggle with depression, loss, and loneliness during this time, amongst all the commercial joy.  One of the best ways to combat your mood issues is to give back to your community. If you are struggling with monetary concerns, consider giving your time as a gift. One of my favorite holiday memories as a child was when we joined some friend’s church choir group and sang Christmas carols at a local nursing home. It started out deeply sad to see so many older adults without family, but the light in their eyes when we stopped and sang in each room was profoundly satisfying for me. Your presence is the present that most people are craving, more than more physical stuff. 

Practice kindness, self-care, and thankfulness on a regular basis. 

This might look like getting your warm clothes on and going for a walk, taking a bath, laying on the floor for a Feldenkrais scan, or cooking a really healthy vegetarian based meal. Winter can be a beautiful time for self-reflection and nurturing of your inner world. Set aside some time to turn off your computer, cell phone, TV, and sit with a journal or paper to write some things you are thankful for this year. Even if this was not a good year for you, maybe you’ve had deep loss, or challenges relating to the pandemic or inflation, finding and articulating the silver lining or how you have grown through any situation can give your brain a much needed boost. The better your connection with yourself, the more available you are for others. 

Feel your emotions. 

When we are truly alive, we are in-motion. Our emotions serve as an internal map from one internal state to another. This season can remind us that it’s possible to bring hope to the hopeless, love to the loveless, and joy to the joyless. Paying attention to how your emotions surface at this time can be a good time to evaluate your relationship with your emotions. You might not be in a practice of noticing how things/people/events make you feel. Some people don’t let their emotions rise to the surface at the appropriate times, bottling them in with the help of alcohol and other substances, leading to an explosion of emotions at less appropriate times. Embrace your inner child and know that if you fully experience your happiness, disappointment, or whatever the moment brings, you can travel to a different emotional state quicker and with less traffic jams, than if you stay bottled up in one place.  

Try something new.

 Recently my 10 year old dog started insisting on going down different blocks on our daily walks. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I think that is wildly incorrect. She clearly wants to enliven her senses and smell different yards beyond the same old route her snout usually takes. We all need changes in our relationship to our surroundings, our people, and to times of year. I used to dread the holiday season, as it was not always a joyous time in my childhood. Differentiating the past from the present moment is possible when you slow down and practice these subtle but profound ways to make a new choice in how you act, feel, move, and sense and interact with your world.  

New Year, New Offerings! 

My new membership library is looking so exciting! For a very low price of $36 a month, you can access it (cancel anytime), and come to class live on Tuesday mornings 9:15 MT. 

In January I’ll be adding a class just for musicians at 12:15 MT on Monday the 9th, 23rd and 30, in addition to my new years challenge: Finkelstein’s Fabulous 15 days of Feldenkrais for 15 minutes starting on the 15th of January at 1:15 pm! Stay tuned for that, and join my mailing list to keep informed at www.erinfinkelstein.com/contact