Permission to Watch the Hallmark Movie
Not that you needed it, but here's your permission slip to watch the Hallmark movie. Better yet, I made you a Hallmark movie quiz to help you pick which one.
Take the quiz: Your Hallmark Movie Night, Ayurveda Style → quiz link(opens in new tab)
(You can also listen to the full story on the Peaceful Power Podcast below)
Why I Made a Hallmark Quiz on a Sunday Morning
I woke up on a Sunday, came downstairs, sat at my computer, and thought, "I should probably come up with a new way to bring people to my website." And I'll be honest: I'm tired of the generic wellness freebies. Download this guide. Take this quiz to find your dosha. I wanted something with a little more flavor, and something that felt like me.
Then it hit me. I'd been recording our annual Christmas preview episode for Hallmark Mysteries & More with my co-host Eric, and I thought: what if I made a dosha quiz, but with Hallmark movies?
On paper, yoga and Ayurveda and Hallmark movies might seem strange together. But they connect, and that's the whole point.
Craving Something Real
Part of why I made this is that I'm craving real connection. The online space feels so interesting right now. A lot of content feels the same, everyone's doing the same trends, and sometimes it's hard to tell what's real and what's generic.
When I follow someone, I want to know their other sides, too, not just their business. (For me, that includes the fact that my favorite artist is Michael Bolton.) So this is me showing you a different side of myself, and I'd love to see yours.
Why a Hallmark Movie Night Can Feel So Restful
For most people, Hallmark is comfort food. You know how it's going to end. The plot is predictable, and sometimes you want to cry, especially during the tearjerkers from the 90s and early 2000s. That's exactly what makes it a good, gentle way to wind down.
The Four Results
Each result comes with a movie lineup, an Ayurvedic drink you can make, and an easy Ayurvedic habit to try while you watch.
- Vata, the Breezy Dreamer: warm, grounding movies, with a fall pick
- Pitta, the Bright Spark: movies that help you cool down and let the to-do list wait, with a summer pick. (I could have recommended ten here, since Hallmark has made so many in recent years that speak to this energy.)
- Kapha, the Steady Soul: more tug-at-the-heartstrings, cozy, tearful movies, with a spring pick
- Cozy Soul: your soft landing, for a blend of vata and kapha who need warmth and grounding
Every lineup includes a fun Christmas movie, a more heartfelt Christmas movie that might make you cry, a seasonal pick, and a surprise mystery.
My Pitta Story
Of course I took the quiz myself. I tried to get anything but pitta. Spoiler: I got pitta.
If you've listened to the podcast, you know I'm a pitta. My result's ritual? Watch the movie without my phone and without multitasking. Which, as I recorded this at 8pm on a Sunday, I knew I needed. Like a lot of pittas, I don't mind working, and I have to give myself permission to stop and watch something without doing anything else.
So I put my phone and iPad on their chargers, and I just watch. Then I can see how my nervous system is doing and what I'm really craving. Some nights it's a cozy mystery or true crime, and some nights it's The Goldbergs, Schitts Creek, Golden Girls, and Murder She Wrote. Those are my comfort food.
Make Your Own Ayurveda-Style Movie Night
This week's little challenge is simple:
- Take the quiz.
- Make your drink and try your habit.
- Watch one of your movies, and let me know what you got.
I promise there's no funnel. You get your results, and you're welcome to join my weekly newsletter if you'd like. I tell good stories in those emails, and I try to be useful.
Movie Watching Ayurvedic Tips
Okay, I don't want to give away the tips inside the quiz, but I have a few bonus ones for you. These work for anyone, no quiz required.
1. Butter on your popcorn.
Popcorn is dry, light, and crunchy, which can feel a bit drying, especially in fall. Warm butter or ghee adds back some moisture and makes it feel more nourishing. Bonus: it tastes better.
2. Dim the lights.
Turn off the bright overhead light and use a lamp or a candle instead. Soft, warm light just feels calmer, and it tells your body that the day is winding down.
3. Take three long exhales before you press play.
Breathe in normally, then let the exhale be long and slow, like you're fogging up a window. Do that three times. It takes ten seconds, and it marks the moment between your day and your movie night.
4. Rest your eyes.
Rub your palms together until they're warm, then cup them gently over your closed eyes for a few breaths. After a day of screens, it's a lovely little reset.
5. Rest your hands in a mudra.
Let your hands rest on your lap in Jnana mudra, with your thumb and index finger touching. It gives your hands something to do, and it can help you settle in
Bonus permission slip:
And if it's one of the tearjerkers and you cry, let yourself cry. Keep a box of tissues nearby.
Watching Hallmark Christmas Movies Without Cable
Hallmark's Christmas movies start airing October 16th this year, so you have time to take the quiz first. If you don't have cable, you can often watch through Hulu with Live TV or the Hallmark Plus app. Check their site for current pricing and the exact schedule. I'm not an affiliate. I just think it's a great app, especially for the Christmas season.
If you want to go deeper into Hallmark, listen to Eric and me on Hallmark Mysteries & More.
FAQ
What is a dosha?
In Ayurveda, the doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) are three energies used to describe different qualities of body and mind. This quiz is just for fun, not a diagnosis.
Do I need to know Ayurveda to take the quiz?
Not at all. It's built for people who've never heard the word "dosha."
Can I take the quiz if I don't watch Hallmark?
Sure! The drinks and habits work with any cozy movie night.
Take the Hallmark movie quiz → quiz link here(opens in new tab)
This Week's Challenge:
Take the dosha Hallmark Movie Quiz here and let me know what you think!(opens in new tab)
Listen to the podcast
