April is National Stress Awareness Month, and I have been sharing information and tools throughout the month in my classes and on my Facebook page.
April began with my mom going into the hospital and having surgery. A few days later strong winds tore off part of the roof at my husband's family business. In the meantime other scheduled obligations still needed our attention. That saying "it was one thing after another" certainly applied with more intensity then usual.
I took these situations as lessons for me to manage my stress with the very same tools that I was sharing. Using my life experiences as a laboratory for my yoga practice has served me well.
The first thing I needed to do was breathe. Being stuck in the car for hours, there wasn't much else I could do. I had control of my breath, not much else. As I made each breath deeper and fuller, my mood began to calm. I knew I needed to balance my stressful experiences with happier and more relaxing ones. I deliberately shifted my focus to the things I was grateful for in my life. I was very thankful that I wasn't going through this alone, my husband is my biggest support. I have support from so many people, even acquaintances checking in with me to see how I'm doing. I'm grateful for my daughter and my grandchildren. It is my joy to share in their lives, giving them support and love and receiving so much more in return. Reflecting on my gratitude, the stress was still there, but it didn't take up all my head space.
When things began to ease, I incorporated more time for exercise. I wasn't being mindful all winter, feeling like I get enough exercise from teaching yoga and running around doing errands. I was sitting way too long at the computer, and it's not good for my physical or mental health. I just need to set the time to do it. I usually don't feel like exercising until I'm about 10 minutes in, then the endorphins kick in and I'm having a blast! I'll dance around the house, going for a brisk walk in my hilly neighborhood, do a YouTube video or do a lot of fast paced sun salutations to my favorite music.
My meditation practice always helps me get through whatever appears in my life. I simply sit quietly, focus on my breath, and maybe a mantra. A mantra can be a word or phrase that resonates as a positive affirmation. After meditation, I am in a completely different state then I was before I started. I see the world through a clearer lens. I feel as if I am standing on a mountaintop, my perception is broader. From this space, it's easier to respond to the world peacefully.
There are so many healthy ways to manage stress, I encourage each person to find what works for them. Writing is very effective in expressing the deepest part of myself when I don't yet feel safe sharing it with anyone else. I keep my journals so I may review what are now memories through the eyes of the person that I was during those times. Or you can rip it up and throw it in a fire.
As April began winding down, it gave us the most traumatic stress experience. My husband's childhood friend died suddenly. We moved around in shock for days. At the funeral home, we joined in the collective grieving, facing our pain-filled loss together. The eulogies gave us permission to laugh through our tears, as we remembered the person we know in our hearts.
Strong social connections are crucial, as life continues to teach me. We affect each other's energy, we are drawn to those who make us feel safe and cared for. We spend our time with those who make us feel understood. My greatest lesson I learned this month is to honor these connections, they are what carry us through this life. I do yoga and meditate because it has made me a better friend. The stresses in life no longer control how I respond to life. When I choose to see it all as a gift, I am grateful.
