Yoga is the answer
Have you ever caught yourself in that dreaded feeling that something is wrong with you? Immediately I start to think, who can help me? Who has the answer? Who can I reach out to at this time? Someone please just fix me!
Then I remind myself you are powerful, you need to make the change, blah blah blah. As much as we try to change the internal dialogue its not that quick flip of a switch.
Last week I felt so low and lost (thank you November blues), and of course all of these feelings were compounded by a recent move and lack of routine in my life. I decided it was time to get back to my yoga mat. And you may be thinking “duh you’re a yoga teacher aren’t you on your mat everyday”? Sure, I am, but that is for someone else. When us teachers are “doing the class with you” we aren’t present for ourselves. I too must schedule time with my mat.
As I stepped up to the mat (for myself) after weeks of not moving my body, tears started to pile up. Sounds crazy but I instantly found a release (cue child’s pose).
Our yoga practice is our tool to slow down, to create space, and get those creative juices flowing again. So yes, maybe Yoga is the answer! This is not a blog to preach to you to do more yoga, nah. But I ask you this, what is your “Yoga” what is that hobby, activity, or space where you feel a big weight lifted off of your shoulders? Sounds simple but the answer is usually to slow down and take a moment to listen to your heart.
Peace&Love,
Sarah Melody
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Why Self Care in the Summertime is so important
We get it, summer is full of possibilities. The sun is shining and well we’ve been in lockdown for what feels like a lifetime. From cottages to camping, to days at the beach it feels like theres just not enough time to squeeze it ALL in. Its easy to loose sight of our own self care needs.
Heres what we’ve learned:
- Start with 15 mins. Whatever self care practice you’re missing whether its going to bed earlier / waking up earlier, sitting down to read a book, drawing, picking up the guitar. Start small before adding more to your to do list.
- If it feels heavy don’t do it! The last thing you need is Self Care to feel like another chore, ugh, kinda defeats the purpose doesn’t it? Ask yourself when you make time for something does this feel “light” or “heavy”
- Go on a date with yourself! Schedule your Self Care time in your calendar, I get it we said don’t add more to your to do list, but if you treat time with yourself like you would with a friend than you may be less apt to cancel. You wouldn’t cancel last minute on your friend or not show up for an important appointment would you? So don’t cancel time with yourself either!
- Have Fun!! Find the joy in giving back to yourself
Some questions to leave you with:
- What does self care look like for you? Is it more time in nature, picking up that book on your never ending reading list, or getting back to your yoga practice?
- What is your “why” behind each self care act? To feel more relaxed, to show up for your family, to be a better version of yourself, ALL OF THE ABOVE?
Don’t wait til September or the new year, start now, cause you’re worth it!
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Find your people
When I first embarked on my journey to self love I became obsessed with Self Help Books. Lessons on How to be the best version of yourself, take nothing personally, and even books on how to change your relationship with money.
I remember reading a quote in one of the books at the time (of course the title escapes me as I write this blog) that has stayed with me ever since.
“If you’re the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room” wow just mind blowing when I read this.
I’ve always had an excitement for learning, I love peopling and consider myself a social butterfly. In my early twenties I would go to parties by myself because I just felt like I couldn’t rely on friends or the avid “I’m just not feeling up to it” or worst ghosting not replying to my text after making plans. Call me crazy but I love meeting new people! It lights me up, so when I came across this saying “if you’re the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room” obviously you start to take inventory of who you are spending your time with.
Now this goes hand in hand with the famous quote, “you become the 5 people you spend most of your time with” and of course we can love our family, but they all tend to drive us a little cray, am I right?
Out of eagerness I became a YES person, said yes to concerts, community events, house parties, (all before pandemic life of course) I even yes to running my first Tough Mudder because well why not? All of these “yeses” were for the sake of meeting new people and learning!
It truly is about getting out of the comfort zone. I know some of you reading this post may be saying to yourself I’m an introvert I can’t do that, and I get it, the fear is real. What if I get rejected, what if these new people don’t like me, what if I say something wrong, all of these “what ifs”. Nothing grows from a comfort zone, its like exposure therapy you must try and try again.
So here’s what I took away. The more I put myself out there and was open to vulnerability the more I grew. Even family members noticed my moods change and my vocabulary too. So I leave you with some self inquiry:
Who is in this room with you?
Who are you? The social butterfly, the observer, the class clown you name it if you wish.
What lights you up?
What scares you?
NOW do that thing, you know the fear, yeah that one…face the fear and do it anyways!
Peace&Love,
Sarah Melody.
- Published in Blog posts
Pride
Happy Pride month!
Let me take a moment to reintroduce myself. I’m Sarah, the founder and yoga teacher here at Anahata Yoga from the Heart. Some of you may know my story that I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for most of my life, and that struggle is WHY I opened Anahata Yoga 2.5 years ago. The idea sparked during my time at the Mental Health Day program at RVH here in Barrie. I checked myself into the hospital after my 3rd battle of depression seeking help to understand why I felt this way. During this program I started practicing yoga regularly to help ease my stress and anxiety. When I’m passionate about something I start to tell ALL my friends and family (and pressure them to join in too haha). I told my peers in the mental health program how much yoga was helping me in addition to our group, and the majority response was “I can’t afford yoga” or “I’m off work right now due to my mental health”. Mind Blowing! How can anyone get better if therapies and self care practises are so expensive? I didn’t see it as expensive or unattainable at that time in my early 20’s when I had the luxury of living at home rent free, and my only expense aka entertainment fund was going to yoga. That sparked the idea of affordable yoga for ALL and is why we have our Pay it Forward Program at Anahata!
For the longest time I blamed or labelled my anxiety and depression on my work and being an overachiever, “Coming Out” was a HUGE factor on my mental health. And even though my family and friends were accepting of my sexuality there was still that unlinking fear of judgement. I lost friends when I “came out”, and for a period of time I was in denial of my sexuality and was too busy “people pleasing” that I never spoke up about the societal pressures that were impacting my anxiety. I’m a believer you can love whoever you want, and I’m so grateful to know that our yoga community is accepting and understanding.
Fast forward 10 years later after “coming out” as bisexual (if you need to label it) to my family and friends, I am happier than EVER. I love the person I am, and I feel EMPOWERED (finally) as a community leader and entrepreneur to share my story. But it didn’t happen overnight. Years of self-help books, yoga, mediation, chanting, trips of finding myself have all shaped the person I am NOW.
I want to thank my yoga community for loving me just the way I am. I only “publicly” came out a year ago. I’ve never felt more comfortable in my skin.
June is pride month and as your friend I want to remind you to keep being kind, practice non judgement (yoga!) and open that big heart of yours. Be authentically YOU.
Peace&Love,
Sarah Melody
Founder & Yoga teacher Anahata Yoga from the Heart
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Yoga for Everyone
We get it, the practice of yoga can be intimidating when social media may portray it as this “leg over your head” “holding crow pose, and head stand” kind of lifestyle. But the true essence of Yoga is that it can be practiced by EVERYONE.
We are trying to break the fear of the yoga world and change the “I’m not flexible enough” to “I’ll meet myself where I’m at”, after all thats why its called a yoga practice not perfect.
If you’re new to the practice of yoga and still hesitant to join a group then maybe try one of our recordings or reserve a one on one class to ask your questions and work past the fear.
We take pride in offering an inclusive space for EVERYONE and try our best to offer modifications and variations in each class so everyone is truly welcome.
We hope to see you at the mat.
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Thank You Community – Temporary Closure Covid-19 lockdown
Day 1 “I got this”
Day 2 “I don’t got this”
I want to thank everyone that has reached out to check in on me this week as a small business owner. Sunday night when I wrote out the email to send to our community about closing our studio yet again due to COVID, I felt calm, cool and collected (and yes sat down to write at 8pm Sunday because us small business owners are always working, sorry real talk).
Monday rolled around and yet with another change I started to realize nope “I don’t got this”. Sporadic crying throughout the day, feeling hopeless and frustrated. What will 2021 look like for our small Business that’s only in year 2?
With all of these changes for January what this means is you’ll be seeing more of my face in your online classes (oops sorry in advance), this is to help with our operating costs while our studio is temporarily closed. As a small business owner I have to play all the roles: the teacher, the custodian, the accountant, the admin staff, the Social Media person (obvs), the friend, the leader and so many other hats that I’m probably forgetting right about now. So to all my other fellow small business owners, I see you and I feel for you. 💔
Anyways this post is really to say Thank You to those friends who picked up the phone to check in, who sent messages asking “Are you Ok and how are you Holding up?” And that’s the silver lining right there “holding up” I’ve never felt SO Held and loved by SO many people before. Our community is why we are still here. Thank you for seeing us, caring for us, and lifting us up. You matter.
#community #thankyou #smallbusinessowner #anahatayogabarrie
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Waking Up Anxious
Let’s talk about Waking Up Anxious….ugh. It’s the worst feeling, so frustrating when you have no control over it. Waking up with that sour feeling in your belly, your gut. Asking yourself “did I over share yesterday” “did I offended anyone” “wow that was really stupid when you said that”. The constant over analyzing until you’re exhausted.
Over the last couple years I’ve worked hard on changing my relationship with my mental health, teaching myself that it’s OK and actually a gift from my body telling me something is out of alignment. But honestly waking up with it and not being able to place where it came from is so annoying 😤 and on top of it the added pressure of “you should know this by now, we’ve been here before”. Now we have the avid big C stress do I dare mention the word one more time #covid We’re in a world right now that’s constantly changing so add that to the mix of pre-existing anxiety 🥳
So on those mornings this anxiety cloud just shows up, I ask myself what do I need today? Sit for 5 mins in meditation, drink more water less coffee ☕️😫, schedule a date with nature G R O U N D Y O U R S E L F!
And reminder yourself It’s all going to be okay.
Be gentle.
-Sarah Melody
#wakingupanxious #mentalhealth #yogaformentalhealth #selfcare #depression #anahatayogabarrie #anahatayogafromtheheart #clearyourmind #covid19
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Be Still
Be Still. I joke with my yoga students almost daily that I teach yoga to find stillness and to balance out my yang energy. Being conditioned in our Western Society to work harder, do more, be more …ALL the time. This use to be me, actually its still me. How do you undo old programming of 20 plus years. Is it nurture? Is it nature? Is it society? Is it immigrant parents, the generation of the working force that conditioned you to work harder? All of the above plays a factor, but only YOU (me) can change that programming, that dialogue.
Some of my most recent talks with friends, family, and community have been around the idea that both social distancing and Covid have reminder us to SLOW DOWN, and that we truly have no control of tomorrow. This doesn’t mean to not have goals and dreams but maybe it’s the reminder to not hold on so tight. Appreciating the stillness, the calm, the quiet, that’s my intention for the remainder of Summer 2020, what’s yours ?
Peace&Love,
Sarah Melody
#calm #stillness #ontario #yogateacher #nature #getoutside #practicewhatyoupreach #selfcare #water #lakelife #intention #socialdistancing #covid19 #slowdown #meditation #meditate
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Be Your Own Teacher
Be your own teacher.
I don’t mean yoga teacher or school teacher, I mean Life teacher . This message has been coming up lately but it’s funny how we don’t always see or hear the message the first time around.
Be your own teacher…trust your own inner knowledge. Do you remember a time you set out to try something new? And you were so determined to reach that goal? So much curiosity and awe. Do you also remember the hiccups, the peaks, hills, and road blocks? Do you remember how challenging it was to see the finish line? But you got there eventually didn’t you, through drive, determination, perseverance and maybe even stubbornness. And do you remember that feeling of satisfaction, fulfillment, joy? Another experience, achievement, under your belt, a new wealth of knowledge.
Let’s stop rushing to the final step, fast tracking or needing to know the outcome and especially stop seeking the answers from others.
Be your own teacher. Trust your own inner knowledge, you’ve done the work or maybe you’re still doing the work (there’s always more work to be done).
Simply.
Trust.
Be your own teacher
Be your own hero
Be your own friend
Be your own mother/ father Nurture yourself
Be your own lover (Self Love Baby!)
We learn best when we simply live our own life, without comparison, judgement or need of approval.
Trust more. You have the answers within.
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