Yoga for Focus: Center Yourself This Holiday Season
Yoga for Focus: Center Yourself This Holiday Season
The holiday season can feel like a mess—shopping lists, social events, and endless to-dos. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and feel like your brain is running a marathon. That’s where yoga comes in! Yoga has this magical way of pulling your focus right into the present moment. When you’re holding a pose with full attention on your body, breath, and alignment, suddenly, everything else just melts away.
Let’s face it, we all need a little more focus this time of year. So, I’ve got three of my go-to yoga poses that will help you find your calm, steady center: Gate Pose (Parighasana), Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana 2), and Extended Triangle (Utthita Trikonasana). These poses aren’t just great for focus—they’re fun, energizing, and will leave you feeling longer, stronger, and more connected to yourself.
Gate Pose (Parighasana) - How To:
This pose is like giving your waist and inner thighs the ultimate holiday stretch they didn’t know they needed. It’s also a great way to feel tall and elegant during the colder months when layers of warm clothing can bring us down.
Stand with your legs wide, facing the long edge of your mat.
Bring your hands to the ground or blocks if you can’t reach the ground and then bring one knee at a time to the ground so you’re kneeling.
Extend your right leg to the right with your foot down, your toes facing the long edge of the mat (the same direction your chest is facing) and try to keep the pinky edge of your foot on the mat,
Reach your arms up and begin to tilt to the right. Bring your right hand to your leg and extend your left arm high overhead. As you inhale, lengthen your right side body. As you exhale, try to turn your bottom right ribs to the sky.
Warrior 2 (Virabhadrasana 2) - How To:
This pose is pure power! Think of it as your yoga superhero stance. It builds strength, confidence, and makes you feel ready to conquer anything.
From downdog, step your right foot forward to a low lunge.
Turn your back heel down and circle your arms up as you turn your belly and your heart to face the long side of your mat.
Extend your arms away from your heart and try your best to have your right arm in line with your right shoulder and your left arm in line with your left.
Look over your right shoulder, but stay aware of your back arm. Inhale as you reach your arms away from each other and as you exhale, press into the outer edge of your back foot.
Extended Triangle (Utthita Trikonasana) - How To:
Triangle is the pose that makes you go, “Whoa, I didn’t know I could feel all those feels” It’s all about creating space in your body—and yes, also in your mind.
From Warrior 2, lengthen both legs by engaging your thighs.
Reach your arms away from each other and lower your right hand down to your right shin.
Move your right hip back in space towards your left foot to create even more space in your right side body.
Press your right hand into your right shin as you glide your right hip towards the back of your mat.
Reach your arms away from each other as you inhale. Draw your shoulder blades together as you exhale
Take a few deep breaths after these poses, and notice how much calmer and more focused you feel. This little yoga reset can bring clarity and joy back into your holiday season—because let’s be honest, we all need a bit of that festive sparkle inside too.
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