When the seasons change and holiday time arrives, it always seems like a challenge to stay grounded in our body and daily lives.  These times, as always, are a great opportunity to practice vrksasana, the tree pose. To do so, just follow these steps:

• First, stand upright while grounding down equally through your right and left foot.
• Balance both feet. Try to avoid leaning forward, back, left or right
• Engage all the muscles of your left leg.  Feel them wrap around the bones.
• Lift and place your right foot onto the top of your left inner thigh with your toes pointing down.
• Hands move to heart center in prayer and then rise towards the sky.
• Hold this pose for several breathes. Remember trees bend and sway. Enjoy the subtle movements.
• Switch sides and repeat the steps.

Practice this pose in the morning for a few moments or whenever you are feeling a little off center. Most importantly, take time during your busy day to be still and strong.  This pose will help strengthen your legs and keep your mind and body steady.

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I was on a plane a few weeks ago flipping through a magazine when I came across an article by tennis player Monica Seles. In the article, Seles discusses the struggle she has had with her weight. She talks about how everything she did was extreme, from a 6-8 hour intense workout to a 5,000 calorie meal, there was no happy medium.

Her attempts at weight loss were extreme as well, from crazy diets ending up in binges and marathon workouts to burn off the binges. She finally lost the weight by doing everything “just a little bit less.” Some days she would just walk instead of completing an intense workout. She’d eat a meal and leave a little on her plate. Slowly but surely, the weight peeled off.

I’ve since shared this “little bit less” advice with friends and it turns out it applies to many things in life besides exercise and diet. One of my girlfriends who owns a growing business and I were discussing how to gain balance. An answer: “work just a little bit less.” I personally struggle with perfecting things to the point of obsession. Lately, when I notice myself doing this, I tell myself, “just a little bit less is ok” and “it’s good enough.” It’s a change of mindset but somehow thinking of it as “just a little” makes it a whole lot less overwhelming and definitely achievable.

If we begin worrying and criticizing a little less and start enjoying and being happy a little more, think of what a LARGE change such a LITTLE thing could make! Try it!

- Carrie Rezabek

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