Today the words “work-life balance” have taken on an entirely new meaning. Our daily routines from just a few months ago are out the window. Work stressors are completely different. Whether you are working from home for the first time or facing the community as an essential worker, you are now operating in unknown territories. Parenting is also full of new responsibilities—teaching assistant, activity director and entertainment coordinator—to name a few. Spikes to daily fear and anxiety are to be expected when you add all of this to a roller coaster economy, ongoing information overload, and the isolating reality of social distancing. Stress easily takes over and can negatively impact you both physically and mentally. So, as you begin to navigate this “new normal” how do you successfully process and manage stress?
The first step in processing the stress is to recognize it and choosing to face it. Donna Farhi is quoted to say, ““Yoga does not remove us from the reality or responsibilities of everyday life but rather places our feet firmly and resolutely in the practical ground of experience. We don’t transcend our lives; we return to the life we left behind in the hopes of something better.”
Ready to face your reality? Ready to let go of the stress, anxiety, and fear? Ready for an energy shift?
Yoga is a tool of self-care that can equip you not only to survive but thrive in difficult circumstances. If you haven’t practiced yoga previously or recently, you may ask why is it the right tool, right now.
- You can do yoga easily from home. Unlike some activities, you can practice yoga in a small space with little to no equipment.
- Yoga is easily managed for any physical ability. People of all ages and fitness levels can do the most basic yoga poses and stretches. Your yoga practice can be restful and restorative or physically active, depending your abilities and your desire to expand yourself.
- Yoga offers connection. In our current time of social and physical distancing, Yoga Body Shop is proud to offer virtual live sessions. These sessions offer a more complete experience, allowing guidance from our teachers and connection to our community, both valuable opportunities in this time of isolation.
- Simply put—YOGA works. Study after study for the last decade has shown that yoga is a successful strategy for managing stress. After consistently practicing yoga, people experience less anxiety and depression. In addition, increased gratitude, compassion, empowerment, self-esteem, compassion, and self-awareness are often the results of regular yoga practice. All leading to a more balance personal sense of well-being and health.
“Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life.” We hear this statement from B.K.S. Iyengar and are inspired by these words to find our inner peace through yoga.
Yoga Body Shop is proud to contribute to our community’s successful handling of this crisis by offering world class teaching and classes despite social distancing. The practices of Yoga, Asana, Meditation, and Inquiry allow patterns of negative thinking that lead to stress and anxiety to be broken. Furthermore, they allow a “Shift” to “Happen”. We know that by being present for our community and connecting them to these practices, Shift will Happen. Again, we ask, are you ready for an energy shift? Join the community online now.