WE'RE BACK. AND HERE'S WHY.
Why I needed a break from The Fig.
We took a break! Well, in all honesty I, Lily, took a break.
And I needed it. Really, really bad.
Early last month, I was waking up every day with a tight chest and serious anxiety. My eyes were glued to a screen for over 10 hours a day. My practice had gone out the window and I had stopped meditating and journaling (my personal self care saviour practices) completely.
I write about self care weekly in these emails. I know all the tricks in the book for staying on track (well, maybe not all, but a lot). I offer well-researched insights on how to keep motivated and confident on a daily basis - for my 9-5 job, in this wonderful side hustle and also as my friends' pseudo therapist (surprisingly yes, this is my role in the friendship group).
So, seemingly well prepared to avoid said melt-down scenario, how did I get to this place?
In essence, I was taking on too much. Too much work, too many social activities (zoom burnout is real), too many favours. So much so, that I would start each day feeling overwhelmed by everything I had to do, causing me to freeze. At this point I was in such a rut, my efficiency levels were SO low, I couldn't get anything done.
It was the question of “what are you doing to look after yourself?", from a close friend and mentor who had noticed I was blue, that shook me back into reality. I took her advice, “lots of hydration and coping strategies xx” and slowly returned to my self care. It looked a little something like this…
1. I listened to my body and slowed right down - I was craving heart opening poses to relieve the physical anxiety. Fish pose with a block under your shoulder blades is the bomb for this.
2. I tried a few minutes of meditation whatever mornings I could manage. Insight Timer Queen Dora Kamau reminding me over and over that I have permission to feel my feelings was extremely cathartic.
3. I deleted instagram and other doom-scrolling style apps from my phone.
4. I had challenging but crucial conversations about sustainable practices at work. I lessened my load and took a break from my side hustle (which was probably the hardest thing to do).
Coming back to these, coming back to myself, I made it to April lighter and in a much happier place.
I know it was long, but I share this essay to say that we all have tough moments.
Even those of us that dole out ~ hopefully helpful ~ advice left, right and centre. Soooometimes unsolicited.
Maybe there's something to learn from my experience.
If nothing else, I'm so glad to have a supportive community to share this with. Thank you for holding space for me. In my absence, and during this read. Thank you for listening.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…
This week’s recs
Now this is what yoga is ACTUALLY about.
Layla F. Saad's brilliant podcast with Susanna Barkataki dives deep into the roots of yoga, its traditions, diversity and ancestral history. An interesting, informative pod for any yoga teacher.
The Yin Yoga Cue Book is all I've ever wanted and more. From Fig Yoga community member Lesley (featured in this blog post), this is the perfect guide to all things yin languaging and finding your own yin yoga voice.
Imagining myself in all these places really got me through some tough times this last month... especially with a (gorgeous) sink full of these special fruit ;)
Sisterhood really is everything. From being in community to having open hearted conversations, having support and a place to land with your sisters is truly a sacred thing. I love how this video uses the elegance and trust of partner acro-yoga to depict all of that sentiment and more.
