Yoga, To Quieten That Monkey Mind - By Al
- Chris
- Apr 20, 2020
- 2 min read
For our second blog post we have a contribution from Al. Al discusses how yoga practise has supported her through her own life journeys and has recommended us some of her regularly used classes. Enjoy folks.
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Hi, I’m Al… I have lived with mental health ups and downs for most of my life. I have really bad days where the paranoia creeps in, other bad days that are probably best left alone and days when getting out of bed/dressed are sometimes impossible... You may know these feelings too.
If you’ve ever done cognitive behavioural therapy/dialectal behavioural therapy or other sessions where you are told meditation and exercise are REALLY beneficial but you either don’t know where to start, or just can’t find that little bit of motivation to actually do it, then you also know that doing the opposite of what you are feeling is all you need.
You don’t need anything special, maybe a cheap mat (Home Bargains) or just on your carpet? A tablet or computer, or YouTube on your TV… A t-shirt and shorts, YouTube has some superb classes for free!
Yoga is meditation and amazing exercise, or even a good stretch and you can choose your level. One thing it isn’t, is boring, you know those meditation apps and sessions where 2 minutes in and your monkey mind just won’t shut up or you are bored and can’t stick it… Just try yoga, just for you.
It’s my little bit of “me time”, that self soothing time that I give myself (nearly) every day and the days I don’t practice yoga, I feel my mind slipping back, back to where you really don’t want to go back, let alone think about.
So where do we start. I go to Yoga with Adrienne (link below) on YouTube, either on my tablet (if I can get near the tv) or the tv if I have more time to myself.
She has a lovely calming voice and normally starts the session with a really short meditation, a few lovely stretches and then onto the session… Sometimes she suggests a blanket for a relaxing time or a tougher time…
I guarantee that you can banish those troubling thoughts while trying to hold yet another downward dog, or thinking of how not to fall over or how much your limbs are shaking…and that is when suddenly you realise “wow, I actually feel ok, a bit better, better than before I started”
After 15, 20, 40 minutes… However long your session… There’s a sense of happiness, and calm and maybe a bit of a burn but anything is better than the mental pain.
Have a go, give yourself a break, a bit of self love. You deserve it <3
&One for the guys
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