Have you ever felt as though your mind’s going 300 miles an hour, non-stop? It’s that constant barrage of life being…well, life that gets you so mentally exhausted that you want to escape yourself, but feel trapped? I’ve been there, and I know the solution. So, dust off those yoga mats babes, it’s time to practice some yoga, anxiety’s best antidote.
Yoga + Mindfulness= A Grounded Presence
It’s no doubt that these days, there’s always something new to worry about, some unwanted challenge that you did NOT sign-up for as a willing participant. It’s as though you’re seemingly trapped in your very own Truman Show, detached, numb and soul achingly tired. This is where practicing mindfulness to temper your anxiety comes in.
What’s mindfulness and where can I buy it?
Mindfulness speaks to your ability to be fully present and aware of your mental, emotional, and physical state. Practicing it affords you the valuable opportunity to regulate your emotions from within, instead of being reactive to the world around you. Want to know the best part? It’s free and it’s something you can practice daily.
Now, you should know by now, I’m not the one to cherry-coat the truth. Practicing mindfulness can be hard, therefore integrating lifestyle changes and tools are important. Cue yoga, a time-old tradition that’s so effective, it’s medically recommended by therapists, naturopathic and medical doctors alike. In fact, it’s probably the only thing the latter two may willingly agree on.
Yoga, Mindfulness and You
I know I’m biased, but yoga working as an effective tool for mindfulness is a proven fact. They’ve even done studies on it! Practicing yoga affords you the opportunity to practice techniques that help create a state of mindfulness. Here’s how:
- It trains your mind and body to pause and breathe before reacting
- Yoga trains you to listen inward and connect with your inner self
- Scheduling yoga trains others around you to respect your ‘me time’.
- Even more, it gives you the perfect opportunity to decompress and let go of the unnecessary emotions that gets piled on us throughout the day
Let’s Get Personal for a Minute- Why I Love Yoga
It’s no secret that in my past life, I was a corporate boss lady climbing those never-ending ladders while juggling four kids and a dually ambitious husband. Eventually, it wore me down; life was leading me when it should have been the other way around.
This is where yoga came in. The more I practiced it, the less my mind was plagued by constant, jumbled anxiety that being a woman, business entrepreneur, mom, and wife brings. Those anxious voices constantly barraging me with to-dos lists like worrying about pick-up times, checking homework, prepping for meetings, shopping for meals for my family and trying to fit in date nights, abated.
Through yoga, I got to leave it all on the mat. I got to declutter my mind, listen to my body, and take care of me. You can’t take care of others when your tank is on zero. Mindfulness allowed me to focus on the important and yoga taught me to breathe through even the most frustrating situations.
Taking Care of You
My challenges are by no means unique to me, many women and men deal with anxiety daily. I’m here to remind you that you deserve more. Yes, there are pills that help but they aren’t magical and come with their own catch-22 (and they should never be considered the one all be all solution alone). To really excel at mindfulness, you’ve got work on the entire you, mind, body, and soul. Yoga is the antidote; take the time to roll-out that mat and make some time for you.
So hey, I practice what I preach and I even teach it, too! Check out our Mind and Body, Complete Yoga Training Course created with my good friend and amazing yogi Kim, and let’s talk more on our learning platform. New to yoga? Don’t be intimidated, our course is useful for understanding yoga even if you don’t plan to teach it (it is in itself a deep exploration of self and connection). We start with the ABCs and work our way upwards! Hope I see you there soon 🙂.
