Nobody asked me to start a yoga studio.
Nobody asked me to teach about the nervous system.
Nobody ever asks me to teach meditation. (my dream job)
Nobody asked for my help directly… until I started talking about how Yoga helped me – in my 20s – to eliminate anxiety completely.
How exactly?
When I practiced yoga, I was in a state of flow, breathing softly and steadily, lost in my own breath and presence.
60 minutes flew by and all the tension in my body dissipated.
The worries in my mind had floated away… albeit temporarily.
But they came back less and less and less.
Until one day I genuinely felt Happy, Healthy, Strong & Brave. And Calm.
That path led me to learn and lean into:
- meditation
- energy work/reiki
- hypnosis
- functional movement
- Neutraceuticals/Supplements
- yoga anatomy
- the neuroscience of yoga
- EFT
- Journaling for healing and so much more.
Nobody asked me for any of this but I became obsessed with sharing because I KNOW it lights a path for someone who might not otherwise know what’s even possible.
That’s exactly how my journey started. An article that shed light on a whole new way of living. Natural and peaceful.
Thirty years ago someone wrote an article (in an actual paper magazine) about Dr. Andrew Weil. He spoke of his slow mornings, hot tea, avocado toast, meditation, walks in his garden and watching the sunrise.
And I thought, ‘yea right’… nice dream if you can get it.
That image stayed with me.
Those mornings are a regular occurence for me now and I love and cherish them because it took me almost 30 years to get them.
I tried EVERYTHING under the sun to BEAT anxiety.
Keep in mind this was the early 90s. So on my desperate quest for relief any new path I stumbled upon was in a magazine, bookstore self help aisel or from a well meaning medical professional. (who told me this was a mental disorder I would have to manage for the rest of my life 🙄 🤦♀️ . Myth.)
When I say everything, I mean Lavender pillows, herbal tea, mints, jumping jacks, journaling, therapy, medication and meditation. I tried wearing calming colors, painting my room calming colors, breathing into a bag and positive affirmations.
When I landed in a yoga class, I immediately noticed 3 things:
- I had better balance than the teacher
- I didn’t think of a single other thing for 45 minutes straight
- I realized THAT in savasana and started thinking again 🙄
Afterwards, I could breathe easier. I felt energized but not in a buzzy way… with an underlying sense of calm that was absolutely foreign to me.
Colors seemed brighter, people seemed kinder and food tasted better… it’s called FLOW. I wanted more.
After a few more classes, of intentionally focused, soft breathing… I was hooked.
And I couldn’t tell you the exact last time but I never had another anxiety attack, ever.
I’ve since lived through heartache, loss, death, injury, illness, single parenting, 2020, small business ownership for 16 years. Nothing, nada, not a single one.
I can tell you now with 1000% conviction… it’s because I breathe softer.
My nervous system recognizes a softer breath and doesn’t feel the need to fight or flight.
It knows to focus.
I also 1000% believe that this is why I don’t have any major health or mental concerns. (knocking on wood anyway!).
Lower physical stress responses = lower inflammation = lower stress related issues.
Science is proving it every single day: Auto Immune disorders are reversible, peptides repair injured tissue and whole food reverses heart and digestive issues.
THIS is why I (OVER)Share. Because if younger ME was here today searching for any and all possibilities… I hope she finds yoga first.
Yoga is a state of mind…. with real physical benefits.
It was the gateway to feeling CALM & STRONG for me and it led to so much more wellness, quite a bit of woo woo and a LOT of ancient wisdom that guides me everyday.
But since nobody asked…. I’m just gonna write about here for myself.
Maybe one day my son will stumble across my substack and find something useful.
Off to walk my dogs, eat some whole foods and meditate at sunset.
💚
