How Body Brain Yoga helped me regain control of my life!

Hello, my name is Katie and I am a chronic achiever. Balancing my 50 hour HR coordinating work week, family, friends, and health often leaves a 24 hour day feeling awfully short. I would guess you know the feeling.

There have been so many times I have been frantically working to finish a high priority project and the phone rings. Yet another person is adding their need to my list, and of course, it has to be done today. I can feel my face getting hot, my shoulders climbing up the sides of my head, and all I can think is “Why do I have to do all this??!!!” and “How can they be asking me to do this, doesn’t this person know how  busy I am!!!???” This was my daily life; I was 29, chronically stressed, and headed for a breakdown by 40.

The effects of my chronic stress included: insomnia, poor relationships, memory loss, weight gain, chronic fatigue, back pain, headaches, heart disease, and early mortality! The following 2 links have some EXCELLENT medical information on what stress can do to your body. Really though… you need to see this!

•  http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/stress-management/physical-effects-of-stress.htm
•  http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/stress.html#how

 After learning this information I knew something had to change. Luckily, 9 months ago I was introduced to Body Brain Yoga & Tai Chi, also called Dahn Yoga. Thanks to the holistic mind, body, and spirit approach after the first month I felt lighter, more capable and lively – WOW what a welcome change! Soon after I joined the Oregon DahnMuDo (DMD) School to practice a Korean form of Tai Chi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gHUqCOwlNY. The white belt level helps students to focus on choice. I could choose to get flustered and quit when my hands moved the opposite direction of the way I wanted them too or I could choose to exhale, realize that I am not the only person struggling, and continue practicing. The choices were pretty basic at first, they were just about Tai Chi. It didn’t stay that way for long, as I soon realized that the lessons I was learning in DMD were permeating my daily life.

I always have a choice. Yes, the bills need to be paid, and yes, I have to workout or I will gain weight but, when I do these things I am making a conscious decision. There are consequences to every action or inaction; I choose which outcome is most palatable. I don’t have to feel stressed when the phone rings, when I drop the Christmas turkey on the floor, or when I skip a workout: because I am in control. When I choose to exhale, realize that I am not the only human who is struggling, and continue to practice getting better an amazing thing happens: I feel that I am not a victim of my life. I feel that I am the master of my life!

Yes, I still have bad moments and stressful days but my stress does not affect every aspect of my life. One way I have been working through these tough spots is to eliminate the phrasing “I have to” or “I need to” from my vocabulary. By saying these words I am telling myself there is no choice- I am giving away my power. Instead I now say “I am choosing to”. It is amazing the difference this small change in vernacular has made in my stress level. I challenge you to try it for a week and see how you feel.

 Now, that being said, I am choosing to turn off the computer so I can go work off those Christmas cookie calories =+)

Light and Love,

Katie

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