March 2020: I found myself, like many unexpectedly, navigating the pandemic and lockdown instead of starting to teach new yoga classes in brand new studios as part of my new career change from yoga to HR. My stress levels during lockdown were not overly heightened as I had had the angst of am I making the right decision to shift careers prior to lockdown. The routine of the 10 day Vipassana meditation at the start of 2020 helped me to navigate lockdown. Summer 2020 I found myself faced with reliving past negative racial experiences which did become stressful. Dr Gail Parker, Ph.D, author of Restorative Yoga for Ethnic & Race-Based Stress says “My hypothesis is that people who suffer from the ongoing stress and trauma of systemic oppression and daily experiences of racial wounding can benefit from a practice that balances the nervous system by emphasising ease. Restorative Yoga is presented as a practical self-care method for addressing the emotional wounds that result.” This brings to life my deep connection to Restorative Yoga which has continued to support me since 2007.
Stress Awareness Month (the month of April) is certainly not the only month to rest and reflect on how the body and mind manages anxiety but it seemed like a good time to touch base with a few people that are well-versed on managing stress.
I reached out to people in the yoga and mindfulness space to find out what it’s been like before and after the lockdown and how they’ve been managing stress. I have spoken with two people to gain their personal experiences of pre and current lockdown handling of stress, plus as an expert view of stress and the pandemic and what each will do for “the new normal.”
Helen Attle, Preschool Teaching Assistant
Helen’s stress levels prior to lockdown were extremely high as she had made a huge decision to end a long term relationship the week before the pandemic after trying to maintain it for 4 years. Helen had left the family home 3 years ago with her two sons now aged 6 and 3 and is proud of where she has now got to and happy to share her story as has been quite private about her journey and not really shared with anyone until now.
Helen has 2 very different experiences of homeschooling during March 2020 and Jan this year; in March 2020 Helen wanted to enjoy time with children as was navigating her own adjustment and told teachers that she decided not to homeschool. Helen did other non academic things with sons; looking for wildlife, projects on frogs and tadpoles and baking. This stopped Helen “feeling like a failure” trying to keep up with academic homeschooling where there were no virtual resources provided in the first lockdown. Helen also muted the WhatsApp Parents Homeschool group as felt it was stressful seeing the comparisons and found it definitely lessened her stress levels.
Helen will navigate the “new normal” by “keeping habits from lockdown… “Yoga has been huge for me, it’s ironic that this interview is for Yogamatters as that’s the website I bought my first yoga mat and equipment from, yoga has helped me deal with my stress” Helen found making time for herself is a new habit and didn’t realise how important it was and will say no when she wants to say no if does not want to meet friends when lockdown lifts, she will be comfortable to say no.
Props in soothing colours Fern and Moonlight to help you find calm. Featuring our Sticky Mat, Organic Cotton Bolster and Eye pillow and Cork Block and Bricks.
Kenny Gold Jr., Yoga Teacher
Kenny transitioned from a Retail Manager to Yoga Teacher during lockdown as his role within the leisure/hospitality arena was declared redundant. “I only thought of work as stressful when it was busy but leaned into it as I love being active. I had previously sought help from a therapist regarding anxiety but never thought myself to be stressed in the way it is often portrayed. My yoga practice kept me balanced and felt like a refuge from everything going on out in the world, social life and sporting activities always kept me busy.
When the redundancy process started at the beginning of the year I did not think it would happen to me, so when it rolled around, I was clearly shocked and hurt as I had been there nearly 10 years and there were others in other departments with less years within the company. I took the redundancy and decided to focus on my yoga training (Kenny completed a 350 hour teacher training in 2019). I only started noticing that I was stressed when I noticed I was not being as active as every blog or social media personality was saying I should be, in terms of maximising the lockdown period”.
Going into “the new normal” Kenny will continue to practice mindfully, journal and remind himself that he is not on anyone’s timetable but to take the time to get better connected to himself.
Heather Mason, Founder & Director The Minded Institute
Heather founded The Minded Institute, a leading yoga therapy training organisation, after years of deep depression, PTSD and anxiety. Heather opted for a non-traditional mode of healing and moved to South East Asia to begin intensive meditation practice in Buddhist monasteries, where she spent 3 years developing and transforming her mind. During this time, she also trained as a 500-hr yoga teacher.
Q: What is your definition of stress awareness?
A: “It Is knowledge that external phenomena are having an impact on mental and physical processes or physiological processes, this includes, importantly, the knowledge that it is actually the reaction to the external phenomena that causes the stress state.”
Q: What are your insights regarding how people have navigated stress pre, during and current lockdown?
A: “In the community I work with; Pre the pandemic, people navigated stress through substance abuse, alcohol being the most socially acceptable form of management. People manage stress by; distraction, watching television, things that take their attention away from the here and now, going directly to it through psychotherapy, meditation, going to the gym, a lot of people going to the gym engage in yoga. “Stress management is one of the primary reasons that people come to yoga.”
Coming into the pandemic there was an increase in alcohol sales but there was also an increased interest in mind body practices that can be done in the comfort of their home.
Heather shared that the 11% of the US population having mental health issues has increased to 44% during pandemic as a result of people not managing their stress, this is a 2 or 3 fold increase in European countries.
Q: What can people do to better identify their stress levels?
A: “Engaging in mindfulness practices; you will be able to identify when feeling agitated and calm. Being willing to face what you feel is a great first step.”
Heather’s 3 top tips for managing stress in “the new normal”
Feeling a sense of connectedness even without connection being present as it was before. Heather admires Dr Stephen Porges’ work on the Social Engagement Network. This aligns with the parasympathetic part of our nervous system, the vagus. When we are involved in activities that trigger vagal stimulation we are supporting the Social Engagement network which allows us to feel connected even in the absence of someone else. Dr Porges also says that elongating your exhale, which has an impact on the vagus, your perception of others is more positive and your perception of how they perceive you, is also more positive.
These activities can be part of the Social Engagement Network and are Heather’s 3 top tips:
- Singing/chanting in melodious ways. The throat has a connection with the vagus nerve so when we vibrate the throat it may well stimulate the Social Engagement Network.
- Facial movements – Heather teaches a Lion’s pose, sticking your tongue out, to stimulate all the muscles in the face. Facial movement is something we do in social engagement so Heather suggests adding Lion’s pose to your yoga practice.
- Eye Movements/Eye Yoga – Eye movements are associated with communicating with others, we look into the eyes to contemplate what is being said, we look down when thinking what to say next. Gentle bi-lateral movements of the eyes, left to right, quells the brain.
Heather says she knows these tips are not obvious yoga tips and that is why she offers them, as they are not obvious! She also reminds us that stress is a part of life and what matters most is taking care of our wellbeing.
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