What comes in the aftermath of stay home stay safe

What comes next.

Well, it is clear, we are making forays toward normalcy.  Maybe that makes you feel like pronking . . . Or The Washington Post offered this article about three families that chose to quarantine together for the more cautious among us. No matter how you look at it, we have some ground to cover before things approach anything close to pre-Covid lifestyle.

According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, “Over half of U.S. adults (56%) report that worry or stress related to the coronavirus outbreak has caused them to experience at least one negative effect on their mental health and wellbeing, such as problems with sleeping or eating, increased alcohol use, or worsening chronic conditions.”

Right now you might find yourself . . .

• Worrying about specific issues or as a general mode of being.
• Grieving the loss of people and/or your pre-virus life
• Wondering how you and your loved ones are going to survive this epidemic –  literally or economically
• Having physical discomfort based on less movement or longer time sitting in front of your computer screen for meetings, etc.
• Wondering how yoga at home or on Zoom might help you to maintain or improve how you feel mentally and/or emotionally.

Some options for when you find yourself ruminating on such matters . . .

• Change your position
  • if lying down, sit up
  • if sitting, stand
  • If standing, walk around
• Look out the window, with focused attention, observe clouds or birds, children, flowers or plants in your yard or your neighbor’s yard.
• Make a cup of tea, let it warm your hands, place your warmed hand on your face, arm or leg
• Laugh – studies show that whether your laughter is authentic or not, it will relax your body, boost your immune system, lift your mood and burn calories.
• Join us for a yoga class – students have been reporting it as the highlight of their week. Zoom links below.**
• Register for the Post Pandemic Replenishment workshop series, gain a better understanding of your nervous system, how it might be responding to current events and yoga tools to address those responses.**
• Monday through Friday at 9am and Saturday at 10am, click Stan’s Zumba zoom link. One of my friends joined the fun. She texted me yesterday, “I love Stan.” You’ll dance (or maybe sit and eat chips ;=)) and maybe sing and laugh too.
• Participate in a Pandemic Support Group. Jane Thornton, MA, LMHC  (heartrockfinder@gmail.com) has joined forces with my friend Laura Gray Fox, MA, CC to offer one on Monday evenings with additional offerings to come.

The Washington Post recently reported that “Federal agencies and experts warn that a historic wave of mental-health problems is approaching: depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.”

**Yoga practice, while not a substitute for standard mental health care, can provide potent, complementary, person-centered support for coping with stress during this pandemic and its aftermath. It can also help you to build resilience, strength and flexibility to meet the challenges that certainly lie ahead.

One of the most disturbing aspects of this epidemic is the protracted isolation. Positive social engagement is physiologically critical for mental health and well-being. We take time to connect before and after our virtual classes. If there is someone with whom you’d like to connect individually, I can set up a break out room for you to chat after class.

InsideOut Yoga is not included in Phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s four phase plan,  which is due to begin on or after June 1. Our virtual classes have been going great though, so much more effective and fulfilling than I would have expected online classes to be. Here are the links so that you can join us this week:
Sunday 9am PW  739047
Sunday 10:30am PW  432951
Monday Noon PW  631793
Tuesday Tuck In PW 212995
Wednesday 6:30pm PW  759414
I also send out reminders with links on the day of/day before classes (seems so hard to keep track of days right now). If you would like to receive a reminder send me an e-mail, I’ll be happy to include you kim@ioystudio.com.

I am slowly adding some videos to InsideOut Yoga’s Youtube Channel. Feel free to check those out. You’ll see when I say slowly, I really do mean S-L-O-W-L-Y!

Please do reach out and let me know how you are doing and how I can help. I love hearing from you and offering support in whatever ways I can.