A Mantra & A Ritual To Find Calm Amongst The Black Friday Chaos...
We know it's a chaotic time of year. Your wellness is on the back-burner, there's much to do, Black Friday is designed to overwhelm you. It triggers our most reactive impulses: scarcity, urgency, comparison, fear of missing out.
The chaos isn't just external. It's internal too - the guilt of not getting the "perfect" gift, the pressure to participate, the disconnection from your values. A mantra reconnects you to your intention. It transforms shopping from a frenzy into a conscious choice.
THE KIN YOGA MATS BLACK FRIDAY MANTRA:
(Or shorter: "Rooted. Intentional. Clear.")
"I am anchored. I am intentional. I choose with care."
A mini Yoga practice to ground ourselves during this chaotic, busy time of year:
BEFORE SHOPPING: The Grounding Ritual (5 minutes)
Mountain Pose (Tadasana) - 1 minute Stand barefoot, feel all four corners of your feet rooted down. Set your intention: "I am anchored. I am intentional. I choose with care."
Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana) - 3 minutes Calms the nervous system before you enter the frenzy. It can help to balance your reactive impulses.
Wrist + Finger Stretches - 1 minute Prepare for all that scrolling and swiping. Interlace fingers, flex and extend wrists in circles.
DURING SHOPPING: Micro-Practices
Standing Forward Fold (in the changing room, bathroom, or at home between online sessions) Let your head hang heavy. Release the tension of decision-making. Just 30 seconds.
Shoulder Rolls (while in line or waiting for pages to load) Roll shoulders back (SLOWLY) 5 times, releasing the hunched-over-phone posture.
The Checkout Breath Before you click "purchase" or hand over your card: one deep inhale (4 counts), hold (4 counts), exhale (6 counts). Pause. Proceed with intention.
AFTER SHOPPING: The Release Ritual (10-15 minutes)
Child's Pose (Balasana) - 3 minutes Forehead to mat. Let the day dissolve. Breathe into your lower back - the best antidote for being on your feel all day.
Supine Twist - 2 minutes each side for a deeper lower back release if needed. Twists also have a calming effect on the nervous system.
Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani) - 5 minutes to drain the swelling a pressure from a day on your feet. Let gravity drain the fluid, but also the overwhelm from your body.
Savasana with Hand-to-Heart - 3 minutes One hand on heart, one on belly. Repeat: "I am anchored. I am intentional. I choose with care."
THE WEEKEND RESET: Black Friday Recovery Flow (20-30 minutes)
- Tech neck (from endless scrolling): Supported fish pose, neck stretches
- Tight hips (from sitting/standing in stores): Pigeon pose 2 mins each side, supine figure-4
- Overstimulation (from crowds/noise/notifications): Restorative Yin forward folds, eye pillow, silence
- Decision fatigue (from comparison paralysis): Long savasana with Yoga Nidra
