My yoga students hear me say this throughout our practice. COVID-19 has put our world on pause, and recent events creating civil unrest and protests have our world spinning. Emotions are swirling; the nervous system is in high gear activating its protective fight or flight response and creates tension in both the body and the mind. Fight or Flight – friend or foe?
The fight or flight response plays a critical role in how we deal with the stress and danger in our environment. It prepares the body to either fight or flee what may be a real or imaginary threat. As a result, the sympathetic nervous system releases hormones that cause changes to occur throughout the body.
Understanding the body's natural fight-or-flight response is one way to help cope with such situations. When you notice that you are becoming tense, you can start looking for ways to calm down and relax your body.
Can we all just take a pause?
What does "take a pause" mean in the context of a class, and why? It's all part of the transformative experience of the practice of yoga.
When we pause in between poses or flows in a yoga class, we begin the process of turning on the parasympathetic nervous system instead, which aids our ability to 'rest and digest' rather than our sympathetic nervous system of 'fight or flight.'
One of the greatest gifts of yoga is that it teaches us to pause. Pause to breathe. Pause to shift from one pose to the next. Pause to watch our breath and observe what it does to our bodies and minds. Pause to decide if we want to react or let go.
The fundamental purpose of yoga is to foster harmony in the body, mind, and environment. Yoga professes a complete system of physical, mental, social, and spiritual development. Yoga is known to ease stress and anxiety in both the body and mind; science is finally confirming its many benefits. You can learn more here.
As adults, we all need to learn to soothe and anchor ourselves in a healthy way that builds resilience, healing, and is life-affirming.
What are your practices teaching you? If you want to learn more about this ancient practice and experience for yourself all its healing qualities, please reach out to me.
Update | Yoga at Christ The King Lutheran Community Center in Kenner
The Center remains closed as its council continues to monitor the situation cautiously. The council decided not to offer summer camp, and no rentals are currently taking place. They will vote again at the end of the month, and as soon as I know anything different, I will be sure to advise you.
In the meantime, online yoga classes continue and will probably continue for some time, providing a safe and convenient way to maintain your practice. Curious to know what it's like to practice from the comfort of your own home. Here are just a few comments I received:
Thanks, Rachel, for doing the 'Zoom' classes for yoga - it is so convenient to do to this in my home, and it is just like doing the class @ CTK but BETTER, you do not have to drive...we can all still communicate and catch up as well. It is so easy - just need a phone or a laptop. We are truly blessed!! - Patsy
I'm so grateful you decided to continue with the Yoga classes online. I can't say enough about how yoga complements my life mostly now during these different times. I think it’s been very easy to follow you on the screen since we already know the poses. I enjoy seeing everybody every Tuesday and Thursday and get to know them better, too. Overall, I feel I have almost the same experience as going to CTK. I just miss that we can laugh all together at the same time. – Amalia
More comments can be found here.
Jump In | Yoga Online
You can find the menu for online yoga classes here.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. I am happy to walk you through the process if the technology intimidates you. It did for most of us in the beginning, but Covid-19 and the increased use of technology in our lives are not going away, so maybe it’s time to get onboard.