September Five.
MINDFUL MOMENTS # 129
I apologise for the absence of newsletter last week - it was both a combination of being on holiday and not organised enough to plan ahead! That seems to be a theme of present; I feel a deep unsettling, a stirring within me… I have never really been someone to experience “holiday blues” before: the dreaded return to the full inbox or the washing or unpacking. Before I went away, I was struggling with myriad physical symptoms - predominantly, I’m sure, related to stress and anxiety being held in the body. When I was away, that pretty much all disappeared. And, lo and behold, since I’ve been back, it’s creeping back in.
Why is this? What in my environment is creating this feeling of deep unease? We could point to the usual culprits: bad weather; work stress; overflowing life admin. They’re the common ones, no? But I also feel very strongly that these things aren’t true, or at least aren’t inherently bad. The cold weather brings with it cosy, darker evenings and the necessity of candles; work is often fine and whilst there is always “life admin” our response to it doesn’t need to be negative. So what’s going on?
Perhaps you feel the September pressure: that kind of new-books, start-of-the-school-year sort of pressure to press reset and tidy up. I say that, but again, aren’t there years where that feels exciting and hopeful, not stressful and loaded? What dictates our emotional response to these situations? And how do we help ourselves choose to respond with gratitude and excitement and joy and graciousness?
What can we do? I say ‘we’ in the knowledge I’m asking myself what can I do, but with the hopefulness that (a) I’m not alone in feeling this way (schadenfreude, anyone?) and (b) that you may find something of value in this:
My acupuncturist suggested moving the furniture, which I’m all here for (especially as Sort Your Life Out is back on BBC). I don’t have much space in the flat, but there’s surely something to be said for changing things around; breaking old habits by switching up our environment.
I’ve joined a girls’ football team which is starting next week. This feels like it ticks many boxes: community, team sports, fresh air, cardio.
More yoga. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever take as much time off teaching again as I have this summer; I’ve learnt my lesson! Perhaps I need it more than my students…perhaps that’s okay. I’ve joined a new yoga studio which I’m so excited about because I actually met the owner at the retreat centre in Spain where I lived for three months in 2019 and did my teacher training, so it feels like a little slice of the motherland. The movement, breathing, embodiment, humming, singing, music and scents are all deeply beneficial as relating to polyvagal theory, whereby we can move ourselves out of a stressed fight/flight/freeze response and into a space of deep wellbeing, connection, joy and ease.
Daily gratitude, just as often as you remember. It’s the simplest way to reframe negative thoughts; to re-appreciate our surroundings and blessings; to reframe the myriad “culprits” as motivators, provocateurs, challengers and expanders.
Lean in. This was my biggest learning from my recent holiday in Cyprus. We went sand buggying along the coast. We crashed (see my Instagram…) but without sounding crazy, it was thrilling. Why? Because it was a lesson in losing control and being okay. We crashed because we got a bit carried away; we let go. It was insanely bumpy and dusty to the point of our faces looked almost unrecognisable, but we leaned in. Imagine being in the sea and a wave coming towards you. Often, I freak out and freeze; I start trying to swim away from it, but there’s a reason people say to ‘go with the flow’: lean in; swim towards it; move with the tide. It seems silly to say, but waves come in waves - I think that’s why they’re called waves. That sounds like a riddle, but my point is that life comes in waves, too. We get pulled in and pushed back and sometimes things crash down and other times they land softly, lap gently and we can sit serenely in the whitewash.
Mindful moment: There’s my September five; I hope maybe one or two (or five) resonate a little with you. How are you feeling as we say goodbye to summer? How do you feel, deep within you? How is your sleep and your eating and your sense of self, belonging and community? What do you think this new season requires of you? How do you want to frame the next few months? I saved the best ‘til last: lean in. I think that’s the most important one, so we can keep moving forwards and going with the flow.
YOGA
Mindful Movement with Laura
Join us every Saturday from 11am-12.15 at the Cornerstone Community Centre in Hove for an all-levels vinyasa yoga flow class, meditation and mindfulness (mats provided or bring your own). £6 per class or £24 for 5.
Upcoming classes: September 23rd, 30th
October 14th, 21st, 28th
REFLECT
“No doctor can write a prescription for friendship and love”
Mindful moment: Of all the medicines, this is the greatest. When in doubt, reach out. Extend yourself to the care of others, ask for help if you need it and lean a little more on those around you if you need to.
Have we met?
Welcome to the Community.
I'm Laura, a yoga teacher and NHS doctor. With this weekly newsletter I aim to help you incorporate mindful moments into your week. I want you to feel inspired, empowered and creative. I promise to always be authentic; to only include content that speaks to me and which, therefore, I hope will do the same for you.
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Thank you for reading! Until next time, Laura x