Keeping Peace During the Holidays: A Yoga Teachers Perspective

The holidays are meant to be a time of warmth, connection, and celebration—whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Diwali, or simply enjoy the change of seasons. Yet for many people, this time of year also brings stress, obligation, pressure, and emotional overload. As a yoga teacher, I see it every year: we rush to create the “perfect holiday,” and in doing so, we sacrifice the peace and presence the season is meant to offer.

Here’s the truth: you are absolutely allowed to celebrate in a way that protects your mental and emotional well-being. In fact, you deserve to.

Below are a few yogic perspectives and practices to help you move through the season with more grounding, compassion, and genuine inner peace.

Release the “shoulds”

One of the foundational teachings in yoga is Satya—truth. Most holiday stress doesn’t come from the holiday itself, but from the “shoulds” we place on top of it:

“I should make everything perfect.”

“I should buy everyone a gift.”

“I shouldn’t need a break.”

Instead, pause and ask yourself:

What is actually true for me right now?

Letting go of the “shoulds” opens the door to authenticity and relief.

Honor who YOU are

Time is the greatest gift we have. For me, quality time with loved ones—board games, baking cookies, watching old movies, laughing until our sides hurt—is what I cherish most. That is the heart of the season.

Ask yourself:

What matters most to me?

How do I enjoy celebrating?

You’re allowed to build your traditions your way.

Create small grounding rituals

You don’t need a full hour-long practice to reconnect. Sometimes five minutes is enough to shift your nervous system. Try one of these simple grounding practices:

• Take 5–10 slow breaths, especially lengthening the exhale.

• Step outside and feel your feet on the earth.

• Take a short break before re-entering holiday activity or conversation.

Tiny moments of presence add up.

Honor your boundaries—with love

Yoga teaches that compassion includes compassion for yourself. Boundaries aren’t walls—they are signs that say:

“I choose what supports my well-being.”

This might look like:

• Leaving a gathering a little early

• Opting out of certain events this year

• Steering conversations away from stressful topics

Protecting your peace is not selfish—it’s self-supporting.

Let imperfection be the practice

In yoga, we are reminded that nothing is perfect and everything is always changing. Holiday plans shift, meals burn, conversations go sideways—life happens.

Instead of striving for perfect, try choosing presence.

This season, may you give yourself permission to slow down, breathe deeply, prioritize what matters, and create space for joy—not the Instagram version, but the real, heart-level kind.

That is yoga in action.