Hello Yogis.

Won’t it be wonderful when we can say…”Yay, let’s meet up for our usual gong bath and have a party while we’re at it!” That is what we will do when all of this is over!

How does that make you feel? Allow yourself to dream for a bit. Let those moments of joy filter into your system!

For me, the thought of us all getting together really lifts my spirits and brings back my motivation and a sense of excitement.

I have been learning so much while we have been apart, so that I can share more wonderful things with you when the time is right!

Struggle and Doubt

Of late though and since the 3rd lockdown began, I have found myself experiencing a lack of motivation and have been left feeling like my ‘get up and go’…got up and went!

I have been through sustained challenges in the past; that have fluctuated from periods of ‘in-your face-fear’ to moments of reprieve and I recognise that ‘situational fatigue’ is surfacing for me today.

When faced with a low level but on-going threat it is perfectly normal to experience waves of fear, followed by waves of calm; only to then be confronted by a wave of despair and fatigue!

A personal journey of sustained challenge and fear!

As all our experiences are different and to support those of you who are struggling from time to time with this situation, I thought I would take the bull by the horns and share with you a private story of one of the most challenging periods in my life. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share this as it is a situation that I thankfully have now seen the back of but I recognise that I am using the same inner practice of awareness and preparation now, as I did then; to keep my motivation high and my body calm.

My personal journey and challenge was sustained over a number of years and I learnt so much from this experience; about my own inner strength, about my position as a mother and also the lessons I gained from my yogic practice; that I relied on as a way towards self-help.

I had to keep my children safe and protected and I had to show them calmness and strength, even when inside I was worried, scared and often alone.

If you would like to listen to my story and to also experience a wonderful meditation to conclude; via the Staying Connected to Your Truth Podcast, you can do so here.

Below though are a few ideas that you can try to keep yourself emotionally happy and secure until we can breathe a sigh of relief!

Acknowledge each moment with honesty.

When you are usually a positive and functional person, sustained stress can lower your productivity and creativity and can knock your sense of motivation. Allow yourself time to feel what you need to feel. Have a day or two when you are honest with yourself and allow yourself time to adjust. I see this time as a great healer and it is in this time that your nervous system is processing the situation.

Don't forget to laugh!

Laugher really is the best medicine! Put on a film or a comedy sketch that will have your belly laugh up and running!

Eat lightly but give the chocolate the green light!

Weighing yourself down with comfort foods is really tempting when you are wanting a bit of inner nurture, but high fat and heavy food can leave you feeling more sluggish so choose them wisely. I usually go for luxuriously dark chocolate of a minimum of 75% as it contains anti-oxidants and magnesium and it also relieves stress if consumed wisely!*

Write down your plans for the future!

When you can’t see how things will change and you are unsure of when changes will happen, there is still nothing to stop you from writing down your plans for the future. It may be that you want to change your job at some point or to learn a new skill. Don’t let the current circumstances prevent you from reaching for those goals. If you write the goals down and then alongside them, write down one small thing you can do that will bring you a step closer to the goal, you will be making baby steps.

I trained as a Yoga Teacher while the challenging situation was taking place. I was also bringing up alone, two children below teenage years and was working 30+ hours a week. I wrote most of my coursework and essays in the middle of the night because I found I would wake and couldn’t get back to sleep.I would use the time wisely, go to work the next day and then get an early night with the children to make up for the lost sleep. The important thing was, I was seeing beyond the challenging moment and I felt I had personal strength and drive even in a situation where I had very little or no control over the circumstances.

All is not lost!

You may feel helpless, and at the mercy of the situation but recognise the things in your life that you are happy with and allow yourself to wallow in and enjoy them for a while. There is also a bigger picture and If you can hold on, you will eventually see your way clear. This happened to me. I paddled and paddled and kept my energy high, I did everything that was asked of me and I reviewed the situation constantly; and eventually the situation solved itself. There were times when my bottom hit the floor and I lost motivation for a day or two but I allowed those feelings to be present and I took the rest I needed. It was never long before I picked myself up, dusted myself down and got back to it!

I am not a counsellor or therapist so if you feel that your fatigue or low motivation is becoming sustained, please do seek professional help, just to make sure everything is ok.

I am offering free 15 minute telephone chats to provide support if you need it. Just send me a message and we can co-ordinate a time to chat. We are all in this together and I am forever grateful for your presence in class each week and for the wonderfully inspiring texts and emails you send to me. It is lovely to hear how you are benefitting so much from the online classes. They will tide us over until the next time we can meet! 

If you haven't attended an online class yet, I have a wonderful timetable of accessible online classes that you may like to join, just to keep your physical and emotional strength high. You never know until you try! x

Sending love and hugs!

Carrie-Anne.

*Referenced