In a Movement and Mindfulness™ certification course, our trainer, Leah Kalish, MA, taught us about “being in the Vertical versus Horizontal.” She was speaking to the idea of self-care. That it behooves every teacher or parent or caregiver to make taking care of oneself a priority, even before attending to our children. Just like those oxygen masks in airplanes!

For the Northern Hemisphere, Winter Solstice (Dec 21) marks Nature’s darkest time and its eventual return to light. One way to embody making peace with the darkness is to create your own Winter Solstice ritual. The ritual I did with my family was truly one of my most memorable moments together this winter.