Yogified

How do I manage stress? The rapper Young MC says it best:  “Just Bust A Move”. I think I have been under stress even before I was aware of being stressed. Like Sabine, I found I was really living out of my body and renting space in my head and my thoughts. At the time, I really couldn’t see that all the things that didn’t resonate or connect with me were the key factors that needed to be removed.

I have always loved physical activities. When I was younger, I dove right into sports to alleviate my stress. I also stored a lot of anger deep down and so I joined the rugby team for four years, did cheer-leading, and then when all that wasn’t enough, I became an amateur boxer to literally pound the stress out of me. Even after all this, when my body and my mind were telling me to slow down, I continued to do what had worked, which was to physically exhaust myself. You name it, I did it. I did weight-training, participated in cross-fit and competed in triathlons. Yes, these things definitely helped me manage my stress but alas, both my body and mind said ‘Meghan, enough. You’re getting older and it’s time to slow things down”. I finally listened to my body, even though at times my mind tells me to keep pushing through the pain.

I decided to deal with my stress in a more connected way by starting the beautiful practice of yoga. I have been practicing for over 10 years on and off, but this past year I have fully committed. Yoga not only makes my body feel amazingly strong and powerful, it helps to clear my mind through movement and breath. The physical tension that I carry clears, and I gain a new outlook on my life, bringing me back into my body and less out of my mind. Anyone can do it, no matter where you’re at in life, and everyone is welcome with open arms, in a judgement-free space. Just one of the many things I love about yoga. I mean, who doesn’t love being able to stand on their head. It definitely gives you a new outlook on the world. 😉