Here, for your consideration, are some ideas to stay vital and well during this socially-distanced summer.
Many of us in the Hudson Valley are continuously active, relentless in the pursuit of staying fit and healthy (mentally and physically), even if we have to do it from the comfort of our home. Thankfully, we have many businesses to turn to who are even more passionate about self-care and personal health, especially during these isolating times. And when all else fails, we have acres and acres of beauty around us in which to seek refuge.
Here, for your consideration, are some ideas to stay vital and well during this socially-distanced summer. Who knows, you may just discover something new that will become part of your lifelong routine.
yes to yoga
Many local yoga studios are livestreaming classes. Stone Wave Yoga in Gardiner has been hosting free virtual classes on their YouTube channel and they are also offering free daily intention-setting and meditation calls. Whole Sky Yoga in Stone Ridge offers a free video library on their website and will continue to host live virtual classes even after re-opening.
on retreat
You may not be able to visit Menla’s hidden valley retreat, aka Tibet in the Catskills, so they’re bringing it to you, offering webinars, weekly series, and full weekend retreats on a variety of wellness-related topics including Buddhism, yoga, holistic health and wellness, the sacred feminine, shamanism, conscious dying, addiction recovery, cooking and nutrition, the environment, and more, some of it free.
forest bathing
Fall in love with walking in the woods. You can dial it up to cardio and then back down to a dreamy stroll. And “forest bathing,” though it may sound like something dreamed up in the woods near Bethel back in ‘69, is a solid, evidence-based wellness treatment. Being among plants and trees, even for just a few hours, you’re absorbing enough phytoncides to boost immunity, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve mood and sleep, increase focus and energy, and speed up healing.
Being among plants and trees, even for just a few hours, you’re absorbing enough phytoncides to boost immunity, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve mood and sleep, increase focus and energy, and speed up healing.
massage
Self-massage may be a bit more work than lying on a pro’s table, but there are DIY techniques that will leave you loose and blissed. Or make it part of your family’s nightly ritual. Brush teeth... tick check... massage!
dance!
Turn up the music of your youth and dance in your living room or yard like no one’s watching. No one is, unless of course you want them to be, in which case you can make a Zoom or Facebook party of it.
gym energy
You can tap into some gym energy with Matthew Santiago and the team at the irrepressible Sport of Iron Fitness in Kingston. They post free workout videos to the gym’s Facebook page.
virtual get-togethers
You can make a virtual party out of just about anything: cocktails, board games, poetry readings, meetups, or brainstorms on any topic under the sun. Connect with your tribe, in whatever way resonates, and blow out the quarantine cobwebs.
meditation
Having been cooped up for so long, there’s nothing more potent than meditation to bring us to center. There are various meditation techniques, such as mindfullness, concentration, or the cultivation of compassion. There are also moving meditations, such as tai chi, qigong, and walking meditation. If this is new territory for you, there are plenty of apps that can guide you through it. One of our favorites is Insight Timer.
