Let’s take a breath…
With the New Year we usually look forward to newness with excitement and eagerness. We often “hit-the-ground” running with new plans, goals, challenges, etc. - usually with the idea of improving ourselves to be the vision of ourselves we desire, which maybe includes our mindset, appearance, occupation, or health. Ultimately our goals and aspirations usually come down to one thing, overall happiness. Starting so much at once can be overwhelming, and might lead to negative feelings about ourselves we don’t deserve when things don’t always go according to plan.
One thing I always like to keep in mind is slowing down for just a few seconds. Our nervous system can easily get out of whack, especially if you’re someone like me who is always in many different constant streams of thought, which is why I decided to take yoga in college and continued to practice for years, because I am naturally the complete opposite of what we might consider a “yogi” and their disposition to be. Unfortunately, finding time for ourselves can take a bit of work, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We can hear other amazing advice sometimes about how going on a walk, reading a book, making a cup of tea, etc. can be ways of making time for yourself, and it’s true - these are all great things to help you emotionally, mentally and physically. But what about when you just don’t have the time and it feels like there’s no way to choose yourself? Sometimes it truly feels like you’re busy all day long, either with work or errands or just mentally all over the place - which is completely valid. In these moments, just putting a hand on your heart, one on your abdomen, closing your eyes and taking three long deep breaths (inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth). This helps calm the nervous system down, as we all may know that trick already, but it also has the emotional benefit of allowing yourself to have chosen you in the moment. Three seconds may seem small, but the act of choosing yourself - completely devoted to you can be a huge feat for the day.
If you’ve taken my YoGLOW classes at GLOW, you know how much I stress trying to put as much as we can aside and give ourselves just 60 minutes of time focused on our space. Every worry, stress, errand, will still be there whether you allow yourself to focus on whatever is weighing on you and “think it out,” or if you give yourself permission to at least try to put as much aside as you can. However, after allowing yourself to have a moment just for yourself you may have a different perspective on everything once you allow yourself to come back to it.
When’s the last time you just simply took a breath?
Kaylin, YoGLOW Instructor
