The holiday season is so busy that sometimes I don’t have time for even a quick workout. Any tips to zap stress without unrolling my mat? A. T aking what I like to call “just for me” time can absolutely help to move energy, alleviate stress and get you back to feeling clear, open and ready for the energy of the holidays. Here are my go-to’s when I have just 10 minutes.
BREATHE. Closing your eyes and centering through a light meditation can shift your energy immensely. During the first few minutes, you may still feel restless or stressed, but committing to the entire 10 minutes to simply breathe can bring a whole new level of clarity and expansion to your body and mind.
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DO IT: Place your right hand underneath your left armpit and your left hand underneath your right armpit so your arms are crossed in front of your body. Do several rounds of deep inhales and exhales to allow your body to open up and relax, and your mind to calm down.
STRETCH. So often people want to use the short time they have as an excuse not to move the body at all.
DO IT: Wherever you are, set your timer for 10 minutes, and move your body the entire time. It can be dancing to your favorite three songs, or doing some simple standing stretches while breathing deeply to release any tension. (See page 86 for four stretches you can do anywhere.) NAP. While it may seem impossible, the simple act of lying down, resting your eyes and turning off technology is sometimes just what the mind and body need to slow down, release stress and start fresh. And yes, 10 minutes can do the trick! D O IT: Try putting your legs up on a wall to reverse blood flow and refresh the body.
MASSAGE. Using your favorite essential oil or cream, give your muscles a light massage. I love arnica cream for any neck or back tension.
DO IT: As you rub the product in, connect to the energy you want to put into your body. Allow yourself to use the scent to refresh your mind, release stress and open your body. » Kelsey J. Patel is one of Hollywood’s leading wellness and Reiki experts. She’s not only a sought-after spiritual empowerment coach, Reiki healer and meditation teacher, but also a multifaceted entrepreneur.
I was born and raised in a small suburb of Zürich. After living abroad for several years, I returned to Zürich in 2002. The quality of living in Zürich is great—I wouldn’t want to move elsewhere again. It offers so much to do, with the lake and the mountains so close by.
I have been doing Pilates for several years. I started with contemporary Pilates before I found my passion for classical Pilates. In 2015, I received my certification with The Pilates Standard in Switzerland.
I keep to my roots in teaching classical Pilates.
Our studio is located downtown, right in the financial district of Zürich. My clients range from working women and housewives to athletes and businessmen.
I am not sure how much different it is from Pilates in the U.S. There are still more contemporary-trained teachers and studios compared to the classical ones. The interest in classical Pilates has increased a lot over the past few years.
INFO : corepilates.ch; instagram.com/corepilates_zuerich; facebook.com/corepilateszuerich`
