Happy November!
Friends,
Perhaps it’s the vata season in full force, but I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed this week.
It could be the additional amount of care for many required of me. As of today, I have two dogs, one chicken, and a rabbit in various stages of recovery and on daily meds. Two of these animals require syringe feeding of medication at precise times. Plus, there is a two-legged child home sick with a bad cold and she is also requiring a lot of my time and emotional bandwidth. Veggie broths, tea, and homemade applesauce around the clock. As mothers, or caretakers in general, we worry when our loved ones are sick. As I write this, I realize that much of my emotional and energetic bandwidth has been taken up this week by all my sick creatures. It’s A LOT!
I don’t mean to vent or sound resentful. I’m not. In fact, I credit my yoga practice and Ayurvedic studies with keeping me steady and steadfast as I plod along, doling out care and doing what needs to be done; knowing that any moments of frustration and/or overwhelm, are just that; moments, and that they too, shall pass.
It is a reminder for me to pause and watch my breath. I’ve been doing this a lot lately because I have been loving Tiger’s new Friday class blending the Katonah Yoga® method with Oxygen Advantage® breath training. It’s like the best combination since peanut butter and chocolate. ;)
I know that our busy lives can feel hectic at times, and it is a short trip to burnout, exhaustion and overwhelm.
When you have those moments, what do you do? At Kripalu, we would teach the acronym BRFWA, which stood for Breathe, Relax, Feel, Watch and Allow. It was enough of a pause to take you from a state of reaction, to responsiveness. When done often enough, you would train your higher brain, and not be ruled by your amygdala, the primitive and reactive center in the lower brain.
In the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program, we would teach the acronym STOP; Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, and Proceed mindfully.
Maybe you have a different acronym or technique that helps you find perspective when you have a moment of overwhelm. If you don’t, please try either of the ones above.
The most important thing, and one of the hardest things to remember when we have moments of overwhelm, falling down, or illness, is that you KNOW what it is that you need. You have the tools and the techniques in your toolkit.
You just have to remember which ones to use.
Mindful breathing, especially extending the exhalation, can help with anxiety and overwhelm.
A gratitude practice is one of the best ways to gain perspective and cultivate joy.
I hope you have a wonderful week.
I am here for you.
With so much love and gratitude,
Kari