You can prepare for the chaos of the holidays by addressing and releasing your emotions through hip opening. There are lots of fun variations to this pose, including back-bends (for awakening) and sitting upright (for strength). Play with it. Have fun, enjoy and share!

how to get into half pigeon pose and enjoy the holidays

Half pigeon pose is wonderful because it stretches the thighs, groins, psoas, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and the neck. It is also known to stimulate abdominal organs (which is needed this time of year), and helps to open your chest and shoulders.

Step 1: Start in a low lunge, right foot forward, back knee down.

Step 2: Walk your right foot to the left, relaxing your knee and outer shin to the mat.

Step 3: Sit up tall and square the hips.

Optional: If your hips are uneven, place a block or blanket under the right hip.

For advanced practitioners: Reach around to capture your foot to move into a back-bend, which also adds an intense release of your hips and thighs.

Last but not least: Adding a forward bend to your pigeon can also help you to relax. Forward bends turn on our parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest) and are considered cooling, calming poses.

Repeat on the other leg and keep the peace this holiday season. Namaste.

What yoga poses and exercises are keeping you calm, centered and balanced this season?

There seems no better way to maintain balance during the holidays than tree pose! The beauty of it is that you can take it to any level you desire based on your practice or how you’re feeling that day.

why tree pose is a great yoga pose for the holidays

Tree pose is an all-levels yoga pose that helps you re-centre, and maintain balance and peace within yourself.

Start standing and step your right foot onto your leg with any of these 3 options:

• "Holiday Sapling": Toes on the floor.
• "Presence” under your tree: Arch on the calf.
• The "Giving Tree": Carefully pull your foot all the way up your inner leg!

*You can place the foot anywhere and still gain all the benefits of this pose. But to protect your knee joint, please avoid the knee!

Once you've found your balance, feel free to grow your tree. Any arm variation will do from prayer at your heart for inner reflection, to growing the arm branches of your tree to the sky for jubilant celebration.

Repeat on each leg and enjoy. Namaste and healthy holidays to you and yours!

Special thanks to Ingrid for guiding me through this pose and this post.

What yoga pose keeps you centered through the holiday madness?