2 deaths (close ones)

1 laptop demise

1 bout of Covid

1 common cold

1 overseas trip

4 domestic trips

3 continuing education courses

1 recertification

1 intensive training delivery

1 new tech platform

1 parent undergoing major surgery

12 family birthdays

Not to mention…

2 wars

Ongoing domestic political chaos

Continuing climate craziness

Inflation

Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!

Life over the past 3 months has been more intense than eating a Carolina Reaper pepper.

If you’re having a hard time keeping your nose above the storm surge of life’s hurricanes right now you’re not alone. Many people I’ve been talking to have their own lump-in-the-throat version of this list too.

I’m not bragging, trying to get sympathy, or taking away from the suffering of others who have bombs raining over their heads or not enough food to eat. I acknowledge the privilege that’s inherent in my list.

Here’s the thing.

Stress and suffering in one form or another are universal. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all magic potion to eliminate stress, you have a choice how you respond to life’s rough seas. Your yoga practice—on and off the mat—can help you navigate those shark-infested waters.

These steps from the yogic path have been helping me cope.

1. Study and listen to your body

Many people numb out and check out, and that strategy alone doesn’t really work in the long term. The emotions you’re trying to ignore when you numb out stay in your body. That stress becomes a pathway to inflammation and major illness if you don’t do something about it.

Though I did my fair share of Netflix binge-watching when I had COVID and was grieving my mother-in-law’s passing (ICYMI, click here to read my post about the gifts of my relationship with my mother-in-law), I continuously checked in with my body to figure out my next best move based on what my body needed.

Practice Svadhyaya (Self-Study) and Truth (Satya) to listen to the messages your body is telling you through its aches, pains, fatigue, nausea, bloated belly, stuffy nose, etc. to know when to move, when to rest, and when to seek help.

2. Modify your Asana (Posture) practice

Between the heaviness of grief and recovering from COVID, I didn’t have much energy for my posture practice. Knowing that I still needed to move my body to combat inflammation, I practiced gentle and restorative yoga poses to help me regain my strength and relied on my Great Yoga Wall when I was ready to do more active postures in a gentle way.

When your legs are as shaky as a newborn giraffe’s and your heart is as heavy as an elephant, do supported, restful poses. They’re about as close to an elixir as you can get when you’re recovering from illness or going through tough times.

3. Feel your feelings and give up the need to control the outcome

Swimming against the current can be exhausting, and so is trying to avoid your emotions. They are indicators of how much you care and can inform your next best steps. Whether you don’t want to feel the waves of pain or you think you’re not allowed to be emotional, the fastest way out often is through.

When I allowed myself to be not ok, let the emotions come, and surrendered the struggle to keep them at bay or try to control things, I experienced temporary pain that gave way to peace.

Practice Satya (Truth) to be present to your emotions, and Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to the Divine) to relinquish your need for things to be a certain way.

4. Double down on Dharana (Meditation) and Pranayama (Breathwork)

Being present to your emotions is a form of meditation. When you can witness them and find your breath in that intensity, you have the ability to soothe your nervous system and calm yourself.

During these intense months, I found myself relying on more than just my usual Pranayama (Breathwork) and Dharana (Meditation) practices. It doesn’t have to be a formal 30-minute sit. Even little morsels of meditation or breathwork sprinkled throughout the day can make a big difference.

Pause several times during the day to take a few mindful breaths, chant something that helps you feel more present and grounded (even if all you know is OM), visualize light entering your body, or do any number of other meditation or breathing practices. (Click here for my meditation guide to help you get started.)

5. Balance comfort food with wholesome, clean nourishment

It goes without saying that eating a clean, nutritious diet when you’re under stress can be helpful, but oh, the temptation of mac and cheese, ice cream, brownies, fries, etc. What you eat can affect the way you feel physically and emotionally, even down to the neurotransmitter level, as is the case with cheese. Considering that what’s healthy for one person might not be for the next, figuring it all out can be a rabbit hole of contradictory information.

Unless you have a medical condition that demands it, avoid stressing yourself out more by obsessing about your food. Instead practice Saucha (Cleanliness) and Brahmacharya (Moderation or Continence) by eating clean, wholesome good-for-YOU food as best you can and forgive yourself if you temper it with some comfort food.

6. Be kind to yourself and rest even when you don’t think you need to

Never underestimate the power of sleep and rest. Everything is so much more stressful when you’re tired, and you can be more vulnerable to illness.

I re-learned this lesson (for the bazillionth time) the hard way when I went on a quick-turnaround, cross-country trip to attend the funeral of my most loyal client. I took a red-eye home so I’d have more time before my next trip 5 days later, and got sick again right away.

Cultivate Ahimsa (Peace, Non-Violence, Kindness) towards yourself and let yourself rest. I promise the world will go on, and you’ll be stronger and better able to jump back in when you’re rested and healthy.

7. Let go of FOMO and non-essential commitments

If you’re like me, you want to clone yourself and do ALL the things. When you say you’re going to be there, you’re there. BUT, sometimes life has other plans, and they just might be better than yours. Your absence might be just what someone else needs for their own journey.

When I got sick after that red-eye flight, I had to cancel a 3-city trip where I would be supporting family members at each stop. I wanted to be there for everyone. I felt terrible missing out and not being able to do what I said I would. Again, I had to flex that surrender and trust muscle instead.

Practice Aparigraha (Self-Reliance or Non-Jealousy) and Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to the Divine) when plans need to change and you just can’t “be there” the way you usually are. Trust that you’re enough, whether you show up for everything or not, and that there’s a reason when life makes it so you can’t be there.

8. Find gratitude

Being grateful for what you have, what you’ve experienced, what you lack, what you’ve avoided, where you are, where you’re not, etc. has a magical quality of yanking you out of worry and bringing you back to the present moment. It’s a fast track to the practice of Santosha (Contentment) and to keeping your head above water.

When you find yourself worrying about something outside of your control, start counting your blessings. This isn’t about bypassing your feelings (remember #3 above). It’s about acknowledging them, and choosing the next best action. If there’s nothing else you can do to mitigate your concerns, practicing gratitude and contentment can help you reclaim your sense of hope and peace.

9. Seek and receive support

Sometimes, life is just too much to handle on your own. That’s why we have community. That’s why we have medical and mental health professionals. You don’t have to go it alone, even if that’s what you’re used to. Receiving help is a part of the fair energy exchange of being a human. It gives others an opportunity to feel the joy of serving another.

Practice Asteya (Abundance) and know that there’s a wealth of people and resources available to you, who want to help you. If you’re having trouble coping, reach out and get the help you need. Even if you think you’re fine, it’s ok to lean on others, just like you let them lean on you.

We all go through stressful times. It’s part of what makes us human. Without rough seas, we wouldn’t realize how gorgeous the calm ones are. And yet it’s easy to get seasick. Doing even just one of these practices from the yogic path can help you feel calmer and reclaim a sense of agency and hope.

Tell me, what’s your biggest challenge when it comes to navigating life’s rough seas? Which of these practices would help you the most? Head to the comments and let me know. It’s always a joy to hear from you!

This information is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation.