How to Balance Staying Informed with Staying Sane

What an interesting time we are living in, though I’m sure everyone at any point in history could say that; we are seeing many firsts happen in our country and around the world and we are able to know about all of these happenings within moments at any time of day. How do we balance keeping up-to-date with keeping perspective and sanity? For me this is truly putting my yoga practice into action - discipline, non-judgement, truthfulness, gratitude, breathing, concentration, senses withdrawal, meditation, mindful movement, and the list could go on. What practices do you have established or are starting to remain level-headed? Please share or read on for more tips.

I know some of us are very concerned about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and how early spring seems to be arriving this year, and while these are all things we should notice and take precautions with, the best thing we can do is keep moving, keep breathing, and keep connecting to ourselves and those in our inner circle in order to keep our mind, body and immune system healthy and thriving. It’s not easy to do when we are bombarded with conversation, news headlines, and awkward introductions or goodbyes - do we shake hands, bump fists or elbows, hug, air hug?

Along with washing my hands more, awareness of touching things in public spaces (think gas pumps, door handles, bathroom handles and surfaces, etc), and watching how much I touch my nose, mouth and eyes, some extra things I am doing are:

  • Making sure I get plenty of sleep and rest/recovery - this includes daily meditation, release work and breathing, more journaling to deal with any increase in anxiety, and taking pauses in my daily schedule to breathe some fresh air. When we rest we allow time for our mind and body to recover so when we need to be alert and responsive we are ready and able. This takes discipline and might mean making time to withdraw momentarily.

  • Paying attention to nasal breathing when I am in public spaces - we know our nose is the best air filter around and this will help our stress levels return to baseline if they are elevated. This takes mindfulness and concentration.

  • Staying hydrated with drinking water, moving my body in gentle and full range of motion, and once again doing release work and breathing. This ensures your fascia is responsive and your internal fluid system is flushing and renewing.

  • Taking extra vitamin D - it's been a long winter and vitamin D is key for immunity, mood, and skin health. I am grateful for all that we know about the benefits of vitamin D and that it is such a simple and powerful vitamin!

  • Adding 2 minutes of a cold shower to my routine - an adaptation from the Wim Hof Method which has been and continues to be scientifically proven to boost the immune system. This takes discipline, non-judgement, lots of singing and dancing!

  • Preparing more food at home - eating more local and fresh food will help keep the gut healthy and our gut is intimately linked with our immune system. This brings me joy and gratitude and provides a time to get away from all the news.

  • Spending time playing with and cuddling with our dogs. Whether it’s a pet, spouse/partner, friend (who you know is healthy), or your coziest blanket or pillow, the power of touch is healing and we need more of it as we are informed to isolate and limit touch more. This brings contentment, purity, and loads of oxytocin into my mind and body!

  • Make time to get outside in the fresh air, connect with nature, look up and around, watch sunrise and sunset more, listen to the animals and the weather. Time in nature is so healing on so many levels for our mind and body.

This very well likely will have long-term impacts on our lives, the economy, and the greater world around us. Just as it is important for our societies to take action now, we must take action for our own minds and bodies. We are not machines, we cannot run at full steam ahead taking in info and being on alert all the time; think long-term, this is a marathon not a sprint and we must pace ourselves. We must rest; we must continue to laugh, connect and love; we must stay aware of our stress reactions and emotional off-loading. This all takes practice and for me this is yoga in action.

I have started an online library (I hope this link works, though I am working on it if it doesn’t, stay tuned) for you to do some home practice if that is what you are needing more of. I added a Shake, Bounce, Vibrate and Roll It Off class this week so check it out if you need to release some stress. If you would like to be a beta tester for being an online participant for class or training let me know, we are so lucky to have the technology that we do! And I have some upcoming workshops that could also be an asset to your health routine:

Please note, I have not decided to postpone anything yet as I believe the benefits still outweigh the risks right now, if this changes I will send out an email and post online, but I do have all intentions of moving to an online platform if that becomes necessary.

If you would like to know what we are doing at the Movement Center read more here or see the letter on my homepage.

Here is to finding ways to stay informed, while staying sane and calm. Spring is coming, the days are getting longer, and let's all make a pact to get out and spend more time outside in nature!

With gratitude and hope for continued health and wellness.

2020Erin McCabeyoga therapy, wellness, Ayurveda, movement