Conquering Anxiety with Yoga

Last month my neighbor started texting me asking if I'd be interested in going to one of the local churches around here for a yoga class Monday nights. At first I was immediately thinking about my excuse to give her on why I couldn't. Then thinking how fast our evenings go and all the cleaning that needs to be accomplished each evening before I can head to bed. Not to mention the time I'd lose with my family.

Then my anxiety came knocking and reminded me I'd have to not only leave at the end of each Monday but also worrying about what the neighbor and I would have to talk about for the car ride both there and back home after the class. We have great neighbors but aren't overly social with them. We do favors for each other and visit from time to time but their short and filled with distractions from either their pheasant farm or the children. My mind likes to mess with me and make me constantly over think every thing I or someone else says. Its exhausting. My whole life my mind goes to the what could go wrong or what did I do that would make me look foolish or stupid. I'm a worry wart about anything. Over stressing being my biggest flaw! I obviously don't want to live like that. I know I have a good life. I know I am blessed. I just always would seem to feel nervous. What could happen, what will happen or feeling the weight of mom guilt.

Before becoming a mother, I did try pills to help relax that were proscribed by my family doctor but I took myself off of them maybe 3 years prior to becoming a mom. I don't want to rely on drugs or put things people can't even pronounce into my body. Not to mention the scary side affects! 

So when my neighbor brought up yoga, I thought about it hard. Did I want to commit to that? I reminded myself that we would be neighbors for many more years to come and although not every neighbor needs to be our friend, having a good relationship with our neighbors would not only benefit me but my whole household. Then I reminded myself nothing is going to change if I don't first change. I understand most of my worries or uneasy feelings are all mental. All in my head. The constant worrying isn't going to prevent any bad from coming but it is affecting my present moment. THIS RIGHT NOW IS LIFE! In this moment we are living and growing older. If not try to beat my anxiety now, then when?!

I let Ben know the neighbor had invited me to sign up for a yoga class every Monday night and that I would like him to help keep the sink from being over loaded with dishes while I was gone so when I would arrive back home at the end of the class, I would be able to relax. The whole point of going to the yoga class is to help me relax. I wouldn't want to be worrying about all the cleaning that still needed to be done when I got back home. (which there is always someones dish in the sink and the cleaning never stops!) I want to be able to come  home, read my son his bedtime story and chill out!

So many benefits of yoga that I've been hearing from other people, seeing from other people and reading about. One big lesson that stands out from doing yoga is like a tree, I bend so I don't break! I have terrible back and shoulder pain already at 30 years old! I go to a chiropractor (not as often as I should recently) but I use to go once, sometimes 3 times a week! I've gone to other chiropractors in the past but this one I use now, really helps me! I don't leave in more pain than I arrived in (I have left chiro appts in more pain but not from this guy!) After doing x-rays he seen my spine is completely twisted, my shoulders are very tight, and I apparently broke my tail bone as a child and it healed the opposite direction. My Sciatic Nerve usually hurts and I obviously can believe I carry a lot of stress in my shoulders. Twice already I have hurt my back so badly, I was in miserable discomfort and couldn't stand straight for a week! All from simply playing with my children or nieces and nephews! 

I did awhile back start disciplining myself to get up earlier every morning and do these stretches with a woman named Miranda on a PBS program. She was an ex ballet dancer who now helped people all over move around easier. During this time our family came into a few changes and instead of sticking with it, I decided staying in bed as long as I could would do me better. I do think during those more stressful times, we should be pushing ourselves more to get up and stretch or get up and take a walk. Whatever it may be for you, do it! 

I'm young! I not only want to physically continue to enjoy life and keep up with my loved ones but I also want to enjoy life and be in the moment. Not be stressing! I do find that if I continue to do yoga regularly through out the week, it * helps me focus on the now, *keep my phone put away, and *calm myself enough to where I'm training my mind to remember a lot of the things I'm stressing about just don't matter!!! Like actor Billy Murray says in more than one of his movies "IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!"

This introvert took a step outside of her comfort zone and hasn't regretted it!! I'm just beginning to love and appreciate yoga. I hope I continue it and am able to receive its benefits! I know I have my bad hours and have days where I am pooped but with things I have learned through yoga, I have learned to calm my mind down, even if just a little bit. I'm striving for progress, Not perfection! No one is perfect. Although my life is pretty close to it!