Self Care with Rajas Energy

This is week 2 of exploring the energies that will help us survive, and even thrive, during the busy holiday season.  By energies, I’m referring to yoga’s three gunas.  These three energies intertwine together like the dimmer slide on your phone, constantly adjusting and helping us perceive our present moment in the best possible light.     

The second energy we are exploring is rajas.  Rajastic energy is full of life. It’s the energy that shows up during the holidays as catching snowflakes on your tongue and the giggly joy of watching little ones unwrap gifts.   

During holiday preparation time, it’s important to cultivate rajas energy because it is little puffs of much needed vigor.  During this busy time, be diligent in building-in rajastic moments throughout your day.  Plan for a daily mid-morning rajas moment, such as 5 minutes of giggly cat videos.  Plan for a daily mid-afternoon rajas moment, perhaps a 5 minute silly dance break.

These puffs of rajas energy will save us when the inevitable holiday-fail happens. (And you know it will!)  We will be quicker to recover, because we have been practicing our vivacity.  We will be more apt to pivot.  What a gift!

But also stay aware of too much rajas energy during this time.  Notice if your body starts feeling tense and punchy, or if your thoughts begin to feel scattered or jittery or panicked.  Too much rajas will burn your energetic light right out.

The holiday season is full of serious memory-making. Bringing some rajas energy along can help lighten the picture and put things in perspective.  We are here not to make perfect memories, but to perfectly enjoy them.

Until next time,

Laura