Hello, my Fellow Relaxation Seeking Friends! Raise your hand if you would like to happily live your life and not have the choking feeling of stress and anxiety? What if you could find a tool and cope with the debilitating effects of it?
Well, please know you are not alone.
Before I became a yoga teacher, I worked in sales. My job was all about meeting and exceeding sales goals. Although I did very well, my life was a constant hustle. Month after month, I had no time to breathe, no time to relax, rarely a moment to acknowledge that I am good enough. In my industry, I often heard, “You are as good as your last month’s performance.” When I got promoted, this anxiety multiplied by the number of people I was managing. The challenge of meeting a monthly sales goal turned into a fear of failure and worrying about losing my job. Soon enough, startled by the never-ending stress, began experiencing conditions like:
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- Trouble sleeping,
- Irritability,
- Fatigue,
- Muscle tension and aches,
- Nausea and diarrhea,
- Constant feeling of fear that something terrible is going to happen.
Does this sound familiar to you? Do your body and mind have similar reactions to the daily hurdles of life?
I loved my job, but I did not want to live with these side effects. I was in my thirties and got very scared that, eventually, these symptoms would lead to diseases. After doing some research, I realized that I suffered from anxiety, brought on by my lifestyle. Since I was always active, my goal was to find a fix that involved no medication and some form of movement.
I started educating myself about this topic and discovered yoga. I found that this condition is common and consists of many different parts. It can have several causes, and their symptoms may vary.
As an absolute beginner yogini, I decided to set goals, expectations, and timelines in my progress. I was surprised, although this was very easy to accomplish in my sales job, it was extremely challenging with yoga.
As I further studied, I learned that yoga encourages no judgment towards ourselves, and unlike in a lot of other movement types and my job, the only competition you have is yourself. Although my job required a rather fast pace, my body and mind wanted to take it slow with yoga. I never expected that just changing pace with a yoga class a few times a week would have such a positive impact on my health and life.
I suddenly slept better, had more energy, and the constant tension in my neck and shoulders started to subside.
Do you currently have an outlet that helps you deal with the stress and the ups and downs of your life? Is it walking, fishing, reading, or maybe playing an instrument? Is it yoga? Are you still looking for ways to nourish your body and mind?
I would love to hear from you. I am here to listen and to support you.
Until then, be well, and love yourself!
