Self Care with Tamas Energy

I’m finding myself looking at the calendar more often.  My fingers have been searching up decoration ideas and recipe ideas. I’ve started making lists (and I’m not even a list-making person).  Yep, that’s when I know my mind has shifted into “holiday preparing mode”.  It’s like mental muscle-memory!

Each year we generously spend our valuable time preparing for the holidays.  And there is a lot of gain!  We get memories, and connection with our friends and family.  But during this time of generosity, we can’t forget about ourselves.  We need to prepare for our own self care just as diligently as we prepare for all other aspects of the holidays.       

Over the next three weeks, I’ll be exploring yoga’s three gunas, or energies.  The three energies are important, because they intertwine together to affect how we perceive our present moment.  They are like the brightness slider on our phone.  They allow us to dim and brighten, helping us experience our present moment.   And who doesn’t want as many present moments as possible during the holidays?    

The first energy we are exploring is tamas.  Tamatic energy is slowed down. It’s the energy that shows up during the holidays as soft pajamas by 7pm and sitting by the fireplace enjoying slow sips of hot cocoa.

During holiday preparation time, it’s important to cultivate tamas energy because it is sustainable.  During this busy time, be diligent in building in tamatic moments throughout your day.  Plan for a daily mid-morning tamas moment, such as a 5 minute closed-eyes coffee break.  Plan for a daily mid-afternoon tamas moment, perhaps a 10 minute dimmed-lights reading break.  It doesn’t work to just “power through” until resting in bed.  We can’t be on bright-mode all day, day after day.  The holiday preparing season is too long. 

But also stay aware of too much tamas energy during this time.  Notice if your body starts feeling lethargic, or if your thoughts begin to focus on a heavy burden or guilt or feeling like the world is stacked against you.  Being aware of this energy helps you realize that this is an energy and it is not you.  You are not lazy.  You are not a burden.  If you are experiencing a lot of tamas energy, you may need a therapist to help guide you through it this holiday season.

Staying in the moment and enjoying the holidays is really what we want from all of our generous time spent preparing for it.  But in order to reap what we sow, we need to be mentally healthy to receive it.

Until next time,

Laura