Written by Aviva Tulasi
The last year has been a rough year for everyone. There have been many changes in the world that require us to adapt, adjust and accommodate. Each person has their own set of circumstances, but collectively we are in a state of transition. COVID-19 is having a huge impact on everything that we do. Even as restrictions are lifting and fewer people are getting COVID-19, there is still a looming uncertainty in our lives. And really there is no clear cut timeline for when the pandemic is over. Until we are firmly established in the new norm, we will be prone to negative stress that comes with facing change. Because face it, any change can be a troubling experience.
Sometimes we think we have to be resilient; that if we are firm and strong, we can power through the turbulent times. However, if we try to power through long term uncertainty, we can hit a wall. We can shift our focus from powering through stress to transforming stress. We want to have a better relationship with what is causing the stress and how we can respond to it. This personality style is called stress hardiness. Stress hardiness is defined as responding to stressful situations with commitment (vs. alienation), control (vs. powerlessness) and challenge (vs. threat). It is a coping tool to transform negative stress, so the person perceives it as an opportunity rather than as a threat. According to the stress hardiness article above, scientists have found that individuals who rated higher in hardiness had lower levels of worry and less physical symptoms associated with negative stress.
How do we develop stress hardiness? We learn to shift our mindset to respond rather than react to stressors. There are no overnight fixes. And there isn’t a miracle tool. You can learn more about stress, stress related issues and tools to combat stress from The American Institute of Stress podcast, Finding Contentment.
Yoga and mindfulness meditation cultivate stress hardiness because they teach us how to be aware of our thoughts and how to sit with them without reacting. We develop the capacity to bring ourselves into the present moment. Yoga and mindfulness meditation allow our bodies and minds to relax and recover so we are able to think clearly. We learn to be flexible in our body and our mind. We learn how to be patient. With time, attention, and effort, stress hardiness can be learned. We learn these tools in a safe space, our yoga classes, then we transfer them to our lives away from the mat.
Join me on June 13th at 9:30am for an outdoor Peace Mantra Chanting workshop. There will be two options to attend: Live In Person or Live Online. In this workshop, peace mantras will be practiced together in an uplifting community event. The meaning, sound and intention of each mantra will be presented and discussed. Each mantra will be broken into pronounceable segments before we chant them together. A handout with a pronunciation guide, mantra, meaning and significance will be provided. No chanting experience needed. Learn more about the benefits of chanting from our recent blog, Peace Mantra Chanting. Register through Dogwood Studio's Mindbody, HERE.
For the latest schedule on the website, click HERE.
Aviva Tulasi is a yoga instructor who is currently enrolled in a IYAT certified 800 hour yoga therapy program. Aviva still needs to work privately with individuals to complete her practicum hours. She is offering 4.5 hours for free. You can sign up for the free session through Dogwood Studio’s MindBody, HERE. Choose Individual Private Session, then select Yoga Health Practicum Intake or click browse for appointments and select Aviva Tulasi. If you have any questions, contact yogawithtulasi@gmail.com.
Memberships are an easy way to have unlimited access to live online classes and now a library of recorded classes and other events. You can learn more about memberships and how to sort through the videos HERE.
Private In Person sessions can be scheduled after you are fully vaccinated. For more information about privates, visit the website HERE.
For questions, contact info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com and we are here to help.
SAM Sather, a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online class in yoga as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.