By Denise Everheart┃Posted on : December 07, 2020
Want a new way to celebrate with less stress and more joy? Try a meditation party to celebrate the winter holidays! Meditate and Jingle!
‘Tis the season to celebrate! We humans love to gather and celebrate! Everything from birthdays to accomplishments, love in many forms, and even the full moon! We hold festivals and family gatherings in the name of celebrating so many things.
Winter holidays are especially heart-warming and favorites for many. Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and Winter Solstice are all celebrated in the month of December when winter is happening for half the planet.
Sometimes we need a fresh, new way to celebrate our old favorites. This is especially true this year! Challenging times call for added creativity with a twist!
What if there was a way to increase the connection between you and your loved ones? Something that could reduce stress and increase joy!?! Turning your holiday gathering, even a virtual one, into a meditation party is a unique idea whose time has come!
Time to plan a Meditate and Jingle party!
Every great celebration usually includes one or more of these:
Decor- This can be hand-made or store-bought, simple or extravagant! Try making snowflakes out of pretty paper and tape them to your windows. Maybe you want to try your hand at ice sculpting and create a unique centerpiece? Let your creative juices flow and try decorating in a new way.
Food- Whether you make something traditional, an old family favorite, or try something new from another tradition- food is a universal connector. Creativity is especially rewarding when it comes to food! You could try mashing together holiday favorites with international twists! Think curried sweet potato latkes with cilantro chutney! Yum!
If you’re celebrating virtually, try cooking together via Zoom! And of course, dining together virtually helps connect loved ones from any distance.
Music- At the center of every celebration is music in one form or another. Create a playlist unique to your gathering. Whether you sing along or just dance, music expresses celebration in a way no other means can.
Activities- Games are a great way to add some fun to celebrations. Scavenger hunts (even virtual), name that holiday tune, and gingerbread wars (could also be virtual) gives everyone the chance to laugh while celebrating. Another virtual activity could be a watch party streaming family favorites or the latest release.
Gifts- Certainly many holidays and celebrations include either a gift exchange or gifting the guest of honor. But gifts need not be something we have to spend money on. Homemade gifts including food and the gift of giving someone our time are wonderful ways to share the love we have inside.
Other humans!- It’s hard to imagine a celebration without your dear ones! But it isn’t always possible to be physically together. This year has taught us the importance of being in touch with each other and the strides we can take to connect with one another virtually online. For some more ideas on how to celebrate virtually, click here.
If you are not able to celebrate with anyone and feeling lonely, please reach out to others and let them know you’re struggling. Also, Lend an Ear is a warmline available for you 9 pm to 11 pm PT.
Did someone say meditation party?
Time to meditate and jingle! I find that adding meditation to any party is a great way to start off a celebration. Everyone comes away feeling refreshed and energized. Think of it as a party ‘enhancer’! Just a few minutes of your guests meditating and your party is sure to be a success.
Guided meditation - recorded, or live if you know a meditation instructor - is a simple, easy way to bring everyone’s stress levels down. Hmmm, I wonder if this could become a new trend- meditation instructors being ‘booked’ for meditation parties?!? In the meantime, thankfully there is easy access to guided meditations online. Here are the top 22 guided meditations for you to sample. Again, this can be done in-person or over Zoom.
Another way to incorporate meditation into a party is for you and your dear ones to learn a meditation practice so you can meditate together without the need of a recording or instructor. My favorite meditation technique uses the breath as a tool for meditation- SKY Breath Meditation. More than just a relaxation technique, SKY significantly decreases both clinical and non-clinical depression and anxiety. That’s a big deal!
SKY also improves your immune cell count, leads to enhanced sleep, improved respiratory function, and increased joy! Check out a summary from 100+ studies on the benefits of SKY. To learn more about SKY Breath Meditation, attend a free and live online session- Beyond Breath. You will learn an amazing breathing technique, experience a guided meditation, and have any questions answered by a trained instructor. Know enough and want to learn SKY now? You can sign up here.
So, how will you celebrate the most wonderful time of the year? Do more than just survive the holidays! Meditate and Jingle!
Denise Everheart is a freelance writer, breath meditation coach, party planner, and recipe designer. Follow her @everheartstudio4meditation and @celeplateyourlife on Instagram.
