Can I share something with you? I’ve been having trouble finding balance during quarantine. The homeschooling and trying to work from home (although that’s largely not been happening) coupled with fear of the unknown has been weighing me down. My heart is heavy with what is going on in the world and I just can’t go on like ‘normal’ with the injustices around us. I know many, if not all of you feel the same way. How could we not? Many days, I don’t have a lot of energy, I don’t make time to move by body in a meaningful way, and I just feel really down about myself. I decided to practice what I preach and kick my own ass because there is a time for feeling down (and that’s completely understandable) but fitness has ALWAYS been the thing that helps lift me up.
I turned back to yoga because that’s always been the workout that helps me deal with things internally, externally and helps me stay fit. The fitness is really an added benefit, but I’ve noticed that during this time when I have been feeling tender and extra sensitive to what is going on, I can rely on yoga for some centering and healing. Yoga helps me feel more confident and in-control which I can use to create balance in all areas of my life not just on the mat. I’ve done yoga on and off for over a decade. It calmed my chaotic mind and my life after my mom died and I know now that when things are really heavy, yoga will help me center and push past it. It’s mediation with movement. The only kind of meditation I’ve been able to do meaningfully.
When I am training people or just chatting about fitness, I hear a lot of concern that yoga isn’t an efficient workout or won’t yield results. I do a lot of other workouts and find benefits in them all. You know by now I love weightlifting and my Peloton (especially during quarantine) but when you get back to the root of yoga, the physical aspect is just one small part of all of yoga. It’s really about connecting your mind, body, and soul which is the most efficient way to move your body I can think of.
If you’re feeling outraged and/or frustrated lately, I encourage you to add yoga to your routine and feel the benefits begin to drip in. Oh and since it’s coming up (June 21) Happy International Yoga Day! Don’t forget to stretch, breathe, move your booty and let go.
