02/13/2025
It’s the middle of winter and where I am in Ohio, it is quite cold outside these days. For the past week the sky has maintained a misty, dark gray cover with low clouds hovering like a scowl over this small part of the world and its inhabitants. This season can be bleak for many of us as we crave the sunshine with its warming rays and boost of vitamin D.
If you are feeling disconnected from others and a bit blue on these extra blustery days, know that you are not alone. I also have a challenge for you. Each day this week- see if you can find one small action you can take to improve someone’s day. A kind word, a helping hand, a smile, a handmade gift. Studies suggest that performing small acts of kindness can improve mental health and increase feelings of social connection.
This week in yoga my elementary students practiced bhramari pranayama (bee breath). We noticed how using the flow of our own breath’s speed we were able to hold space for others while humming on our exhales followed by the feeling of being supported as we paused for air on our inhales. At the end of class we made notes of encouragement to give others an uplifting message in this cold, sometimes dreary season. Which is, like everything, simply just a season.
❤️ Peace