De-Stress This Holiday Season
From the Desk of Katrina Sukola, Yoga Teacher…
‘Tis the season to be busy with holiday shopping, traveling and filling our social calendars. It is also the time of year when we are most likely to catch a cold or feel stressed. When we perceive and feel stress, toxicity builds in the body. The body begins to break down and lose the energy that it requires to function at optimal levels. Stress, whether physical or emotional, can actually weaken the immune system and limits the body’s ability to repair itself.
The key to stress is learning how to manage it. When managed well, stress can lead to progress and growth. Here are some tips to keep you in peak condition during the holidays:
- Practice yoga regularly - include restorative poses and deep breathing in your practice.
- Study meditation or other mindfulness practices.
- Learn how to laugh at yourself. When we feel good, our body responds. Approach stress with humor and practice having a positive outlook on your life.
- During the winter season, it is a good idea to strengthen the immune system so that it can successfully fight off infections. Adopt regular sleep and eating patterns.
You may not be able to avoid life and its stressors, but you can choose how to respond to these events. The holidays are a time of celebration, family, friends, and travel. Take a moment to slow down, center yourself, and let your stress melt away.
Katrina Sukola, Yoga Teacher
Katrina has had a lifelong relationship with movement. Dancing from a young age, including ballet and later studying other styles including flamenco and aerial dance. In 2001, she began exploring different styles of yoga such as Vinyasa, Restorative and Anusara yoga. Katrina completed her 200-hour certification with YogaWorks in 2010, training with master yoga teacher Natasha Rizopoulos. Her teaching is strongly influenced by this method, combining Ashtanga’s focus on connecting movement with breath and Iyengar’s attention to precise alignment. Other influences include her teachers Jillian Pransky, Barbara Benagh and Daniel Orlansky.
In both individual and small group settings, students will experience thoughtfully sequenced classes, cultivating body and mental awareness, and finding balance between effort and ease. Katrina teaches yoga for students to increase strength and flexibility while reducing stress and tension, creating calm in both the body and mind. Through continuous practice, Katrina has experienced the powerful mental and physical benefits of yoga, both on and off the mat. Katrina teaches yoga throughout the Boston area and is a member of the dance company Round the Corner Movers. She continues learning and sharing this ancient practice of moving, breathing, and overall well-being.