As the holiday season approaches, the pressures of busy schedules and heightened expectations often lead to stress. For Kaeli Hernandez and Natasha Perez, owners of Sacred Sisters Wellness, dealing with stress lies in returning to holistic practices rooted in mindfulness and balance. Both born in Hawaii and holding advanced degrees in health-related fields, they have devoted their lives to promoting wellness through ancient healing arts. We asked Hernandez and Perez to share insights on meditation and mindfulness, and they offered practical tips to help us all cultivate a sense of calm and presence, even amid the chaos of the holiday season.
What is your definition of meditation?
We look at meditation as the art of doing nothing. It is the practice of being present and learning to listen with compassionate awareness. Meditation cultivates mindfulness and we teach a more traditional approach of seated meditation, initially with guidance, then leading into complete silence.
What does it mean to be mindful?
Being mindful means being fully present in the here and now. It’s the space of being free from self-judgment and overactive thoughts that may come from past experiences or focusing on the future. Mindfulness is not a goal to be achieved, but a practice that can be utilized daily. A few daily activities to practice mindfulness are brushing your teeth, washing dishes and going for a walk. During these activities, notice when your attention goes somewhere other than the activity at that moment, and continue to bring your focus back to it as many times as needed. At Sacred Sisters Wellness, we view mindfulness as meditation off the mat.
How does practicing in a group setting differ from practicing alone at home?
Practicing in a group setting can offer a supportive environment for students to learn and grow, especially if a person is an extrovert, looking to get out of their comfort zone or newer to the practice, and wanting a more interactive experience with their peers and teacher.
Practicing alone is less interactive with peers and teachers, but very powerful, and may speak to those who might feel intimidated in a group setting, or who are more introverted and/or looking to start a practice at home.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, what advice do you give readers on how to stay present in the moment?
We suggest taking moments to intentionally check in with yourself, whether it be taking deep intentional breaths or using breathing techniques like three-part breath or alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana); EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, aka tapping) before walking into your family gatherings; or allowing yourself to keep it simple and not finish everything on your to-do list. Give yourself time to prepare, keep it simple and connect to your breath often. Keep in mind that we are all doing our best with the tools that we have at any given moment.
What about dealing with stress during a sometimes high-stress season?
When you notice you are overwhelmed with stress, acknowledge it and then do one thing for yourself to bring you back to the present with what you have in that moment. Keep in mind your “why” or intention. For example, if you are hosting a gathering, be honest with yourself of what you can and can’t do right now. Coming back to your intention will help you feel energized and uplifted rather than overwhelmed and stressed.
Remember, stress is temporary and it isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s how we handle it that begins to affect our health. Asking yourself what you need will go a long way, as well as becoming familiar with how you manage stress. Depending on what will be most beneficial for you in that moment, a few suggested practices are a mindful jog, a bath, asking for help, drinking your favorite tea, attending a yoga class, moving your body in some shape or form and most importantly, knowing you are not alone.
Sacred Sisters Wellness Classes for Meditation and Mindfulness
- Gentle Movement, Breathwork & Meditation: Tues. at 9 a.m.
- Reiki and Restorative: Tues. at 6 p.m.
- Restorative & Sound: Thurs. at 6:15 p.m.
- Ecstatic Dance Workshop: Once a month, schedule varies
Overall, all the classes and workshops offered at Sacred Sisters Wellness speak to mindfulness and meditation, and guide students to bring intention and awareness into every aspect of their life and practice, both on and off the mat.
Visit Sacred Sisters Wellness: 3633 S Staples St. | (361) 933-9055 | @sacredsisterswellness