It is amazing, isn't it? How quickly our self care begins to dissolve, pushed to the side and saved for another time as we strive to serve others and finish our projects,errands, phone dates. In a society of "yes", when do you recognize the importance of "no" to set aside daily moments for your self love and care.
As an Occupational therapist, one of the aspects of our daily life activities is our self care. We study the importance of balance in our lives to be healthy, exercise, eat well, see health practitioners, laugh, spend time with others, reflect etc. and to teach this to our clients in times of injuries, stress and hardships.
As a yogi and yoga teacher, yoga teaches the importance of life to have self love first in order to love others and to practice yoga physically and mentally/emotionally on a daily basis to grow in our ability to teach and serve others. Yet as a yoga teacher and OT, it is common for our own personal practice to be pushed aside for a few days to sub classes and to teach or work as much as we can. As service providers/practitioners of any kind this is a common regret; serving as much as we can to others without balancing our service to self.
When you begin to recognize if this is or has been happening to you, ask yourself if you wish to make changes? Yes? Then start RIGHT NOW! What are you doing in this moment that you could stop and spend 3-5 minutes for self? Yes, take 3-5 minutes to sip hot tea and meditate on an intention, a mantra and make your day that much better.
Plan for the next opportunity. If I wake up 15 minutes earlier I can complete 6-8 full Surya Namaskars (Sun Salutations). I can bring my gym shoes to work and clothes and schedule 3 days a week that i leave work and hit the gym before the drive. I can plan my meals for myself and family on Sundays for a healthy menu of snacks and dinners. I can take 15 minutes when I get home to turn my phone on silent and wrestle my dog and my lover and kids without once checking emails or Facebook. I think you get it. There is no excuse from the moment of realization to the moment of change, that you cannot start practicing self care. I support you and your moments- now go out and get it, feel good for yourself and share love.
As an Occupational therapist, one of the aspects of our daily life activities is our self care. We study the importance of balance in our lives to be healthy, exercise, eat well, see health practitioners, laugh, spend time with others, reflect etc. and to teach this to our clients in times of injuries, stress and hardships.
As a yogi and yoga teacher, yoga teaches the importance of life to have self love first in order to love others and to practice yoga physically and mentally/emotionally on a daily basis to grow in our ability to teach and serve others. Yet as a yoga teacher and OT, it is common for our own personal practice to be pushed aside for a few days to sub classes and to teach or work as much as we can. As service providers/practitioners of any kind this is a common regret; serving as much as we can to others without balancing our service to self.
When you begin to recognize if this is or has been happening to you, ask yourself if you wish to make changes? Yes? Then start RIGHT NOW! What are you doing in this moment that you could stop and spend 3-5 minutes for self? Yes, take 3-5 minutes to sip hot tea and meditate on an intention, a mantra and make your day that much better.
Plan for the next opportunity. If I wake up 15 minutes earlier I can complete 6-8 full Surya Namaskars (Sun Salutations). I can bring my gym shoes to work and clothes and schedule 3 days a week that i leave work and hit the gym before the drive. I can plan my meals for myself and family on Sundays for a healthy menu of snacks and dinners. I can take 15 minutes when I get home to turn my phone on silent and wrestle my dog and my lover and kids without once checking emails or Facebook. I think you get it. There is no excuse from the moment of realization to the moment of change, that you cannot start practicing self care. I support you and your moments- now go out and get it, feel good for yourself and share love.