Tis the season and sad to say, despite our best intentions we all become a bit crazed. It’s easy to think that over-consumption and all its corollary suffering is 
a recent phenomenon, but lusting after “stuff” and agonizing about our relationship to things has been part of the human condition through the ages.
With that in mind, a brief examination of an old and beloved definition of Yoga. Simple yet profound, it provides invaluable wisdom for dealing with holiday mayhem, so that the season replenishes rather than depletes.
The concept comes from the Yoga Sutra, a thousand of years-old text, and simply suggests that we practice Yoga anytime we have success in quieting the incessant chatter that tends to clutter our mind and make us manic.
The ancient Yogis called this chatter “vrittis” and the etymology of this word comes from the root “to whirl”. I find this fascinating since so much of our hectic thinking at this time of year has a kind of circular, non-stop quality. Many of our thoughts don’t really get us anywhere, they just frantically spin, like a hamster on a wheel.
So, how to practice Yoga amidst all the frenzy? Yes, it would be nice if everyone could get to a class and spend an hour or two doing poses … but that’s not always possible. You can, however, take 5 minutes once or twice a day to sit quietly, with your eyes closed, and follow your breath. Literally five minutes, with your eyes closed, breathing evenly and paying attention. You will be stunned at how different you feel after. Even if the whole five minutes you are going over your “to do” list, something about this kind of sitting, eyes closed, watching your breath and taking some of your attention off the list will have the effect of quieting the chatter. And when the mind is any amount stiller, the actions that follow come from a more centered place, and when you are more centered your choices about what you buy and how you give are more reflective of the real you, not the lunatic overlay that this season can promote. So try it. Just 5 minutes, once or twice a day, and see how it makes what comes next a bit less frantic and a bit more enjoyable.
We love the Enso Meditation Timer.
Also, try the “anuloma-viloma” breathing for 1 minute after this and feel much more centered. The technique: (i) close the left nostril, breathe in using the right (say, 3 counts), close the right nostril, and breathe out using the left nostril (say, 6 counts). Now, do it the other way around. Try 3 such repetition and feel the difference!