We all want to be free of emotional pain. We all want to feel content and happy in our daily life. With the pressures of a fast paced world, family life, workplace dysfunction and relationship tensions, its just part of the human experience that from time to time we will struggle with low emotions, anxious tendencies, feeling agitated, upset or even overwhelmed. So how can we help ourselves when we feel these difficult emotions?

Step 1. Notice the opportunity

Yoga helps us understand that these difficult emotions do not need to define us. In fact, we don’t even need to identify ourselves with them. Its common for us to think when we are feeling anxious or down that ‘we are not doing so well’ or this is an issue or a problem that I’m experiencing this negative emotion. However, the practice of yoga enables us to notice these feelings as an opportunity to practice self soothing.

The key word here is ‘noticing’. Yoga is essentially the practice of noticing – or paying attention. The word mindfulness is a bit of a buzz word at the moment. Essentially yoga is practicing mindfulness or body awareness (all the same thing). In downward dog, or warrior two pose, we pay attention to our body and our breath with a sense of curiosity and kindness toward ourselves. ‘How can I activate my back glute here’, or ‘how can I find a sense of calm amongst holding this empowering warrior pose’, ‘how does it feel in my mid section when I exhale in this seated twist’?. We enjoy the process of connecting to our body and our breath with curiosity.

Basically, by practising yoga we move our focus from ruminating about the past or worrying about the future and focus on the sensations in the body. We may have a scattered busy mind at the start, but over time as we practice regularly we can focus better and better. Hence why its called a practice- most of us find our minds are busy when we first sit in a yoga room!

Step 2. Gaining power over our emotions

The more we practice yoga, the more we can regulate our own emotions so they don’t take over us so much. Practicing yoga helps us develop the skill of becoming more present on demand and this helps us change the way we experience emotions. This is reflected in the way use language. For example, we may be experiencing anger. Now we are more aware, rather than saying to ourselves “I am angry”, we become aware that its just an experience, and use more mindful language like “I am experiencing the feeling of anger”.

Step 3. Create space between our self and the emotion

By changing our language, we put some space between our true sense of self and the ‘experience’. This clarity forms a change in our experience, and we discover that the emotion is physiological – an experience in the body. We now have a choice point. This is a powerful because we now have the awareness to say that the sadness, depression, anxiety ARE NOT ME.

So we now have power over our emotions. This is exciting and life changing!

To learn more about building your inner strengths through mindful living see details below for the upcoming half day PAUSE AND RESET Yoga and Wellbeing retreat. For weekly yoga classes see the timetable and book in here

Jo Jarden is a personal trainer and yoga teacher and the founder of Heart and Mind Yoga studio in Central Christchurch. With 10 years experience in health promotion, she now helps people one on one with their wellbeing. Services include, yoga teaching, personal training, workplace yoga and wellbeing workshops.

Book the PAUSE & RESET half day retreat

PAUSE (2).jpg — PAUSE & RESET

Saturday May 2nd 12-4pm Heart and Mind Yoga Studio 13/21 Bealey Ave $65

This half day of yoga and wellbeing practices will help us pause and reset. If you are feeling the stress of modern life and want to increase calm, peace and clarity - here is your opportunity to take time for you, reflect and reset with the powerful tools of yoga and wellbeing practices.

What's included:
A gentle workout to feel vibrant in your body
Yoga for finding inner calm
Mind and body practices for relaxation, sleeping better, and getting clarity of mind.
How to reduce anxious tendencies drawing on the ancient wisdom of yoga and the science of wellbeing
Evidence based tips for regulating our emotions
Sharing with others in a small group to find positive health and wellbeing solutions.

Also includes afternoon tea and warm chats.

How do we regulate our emotions?