“For the spirit of Christmas fulfills the greatest hunger of mankind.” - Loring A. Schuler

There are a number of people who would disagree with this quote, perhaps you are one of them … great! We can discuss ;)

For Thanksgiving, we reflected on cultivating gratitude by letting go of judgments and expectations. Keeping in line with the theme of integrating yoga into all aspects of life, I’d like to offer similar suggestions for this Christmas season.

Admittedly, Christmas has become a very commercialized holiday. Each year the stores display their decorations and merchandise earlier, each year larger amounts of money are spent and the size of the celebrations increases. In such a reality, we may very well dismiss the above philosophical statement with cynical disbelief, rather than warm-hearted accord.

The tragedy in this is that the essence of Christmas has been lost for many of us, buried deep underneath the stress, the packages, the stores. How can we maintain a certain purity of heart around this time and enjoy it for what it should be? There are many approaches. I will suggest one: Bramacharya.

Bramacharya is one of the 10 principles of living in line with nature, as proposed by the yogic lifestyle. If you were to search for it, it is likely you will find an incomplete definition of Bramacharya as celibacy. It is true that some practitioners choose to embody it in this way; however, it is much more than this. In its broadest sense, Bramacharya refers to moderation and self-control, which serves a very specific function at this time of the year.

Aside from the stress of shopping and preparing, Christmas surrounds us with an overabundance of food, drink and celebrating, all of which overstimulate our senses. In the chaos it becomes more likely that we will overindulge, forget to listen to our body when it needs a break, and visit people we care for without being fully present with them. These ways of being during the holiday contribute to a lack of fulfillment, and an agitated state, since the body and mind are no longer in harmony.

To clarify, by all means enjoy the festivities! I am not suggesting that you refrain from taking part in the traditions and celebrations. What I am suggesting, however, is to bring a new level of mindfulness and appreciation to them. To practice Bramacharya is to constantly check in with yourself and what your body and mind are in need of at a given moment.

• If you need to rest, rest!
• When sitting at Christmas dinner, rather than being overwhelmed with the quantity of food that is often present, allow yourself to take the time to fully experience it. Slow down, chew carefully, really taste the wonderful flavours of the season, and consider the care and work that went into making it.
• When you exchange gifts, do so from a place of openness and connection to the reason for the exchange. It is not to give or receive the best present; it is to show someone that you care. See if you can prevent yourself from getting carried away with material focus.
• When you find yourself at gatherings, show 100% up for the person you’re talking to. Listen to them from a place of love, experiment with speaking less about yourself, and instead showing a genuine interest in them.

All of these practices of moderation and self-discipline will bring more satisfaction from the holiday food you enjoy and the gifts you receive, as well as increase the depth and meaning of your conversations and interactions.

I would suggest that Schuler’s quote refers the common craving of the human soul to find a world of love, compassion and connection, in one that can sometimes feel cold and difficult. Christmas is meant to be a time when we recall the possibility of creating such a world, and take the action to make that possibility of a reality.

May you take the time to engage in some of these proposed practices, and find balance and harmony this holiday season.

Namaste,

Amanda