Thank you for being patient with this week’s post and hanging in there. I promise not to make this a consistent thing where I am only posting once a week. However, what I’ve been dealing with this week is my topic: practicing yoga with anxiety. I know everyone has different anxiety and it necessarily doesn’t feel, look, or last as long as it does for some people (so please keep this in mind when reading this blog: I am referring directly to my circumstances and respect that we all have different relationships with our anxiety).
However, this week for me my anxiety has been a thorn in my butt. Usually it is manageable and I can get on with my every day life. I can usually harness that uncomfortable energy into my practice and end up feeling amazing afterwards. Other times it festers, no matter how hard I try to not let it affect me. It’s like vermin making a nest in my brain and you know what? It just gets the best of me and it’s hard to focus on anything. I become self conscious, even about my practice. “It won’t matter how hard I work, I’ll feel the same.” “It’s not like I was going to have a good practice anyways.” So what can you do for yourself when your practice is either nonexistent in those times or you are frustrated with yourself?
It’s not the same for everyone and ultimately, you know what’s best for you and your body. Some days it could just be changing your practice to a meditation, a reading, or maybe just do nothing. Other days, it could just work through that anxiety and getting on the mat. All of that is okay. We all have our own journey and know our own capabilities in those moments. You’re not any weaker just because you have a very human and fragile moment: you’re doing what’s best for you and you shouldn’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself.
If you take anything from reading this it’s compassion. Be gentle, forgive yourself. You are human. It’s hard not to dwell on those moments when we’re frustrated with ourselves, but stand firm on being kind to yourself. A mantra I say to myself in those moments is:
” I am not my anxiety and my anxiety is not me. I will persevere because I am strong. It’s okay to not feel amazing right now; it will get better.”
So I challenge you, the next time it feels like your mental block is preventing you to move forward: say that mantra or one of your liking. Whatever works for you! If you’re feeling up to the challenge, get yourself up and practice and take care of your body, mind, and anxiety. That being said, it’s okay that sometimes you won’t recoup immediately: but be patient, you will be okay.
The Resilient Yogi 