five things

I was speaking to Annika recently about writing a newsletter on anxiety. I know it’s something many of us experience on some level, and it’s definitely something that resonates with me. But when it came down to writing it…

I felt too anxious

My internal dialogue—what we refer to as ‘mind chatter’ or chitta vritti in yoga—started, and it completely stopped me in my tracks. 

I couldn’t write anything because I was too busy thinking:

Who am I to write about anxiety? Why would anyone read what I have to say? And what kind of yoga teacher am I anyway, talking about anxiety when it’s clearly something I still struggle with?

It’s been a few weeks since this particular spiral of thoughts, and it’s always easier for me to think more rationally when I’m not in the peak of anxiety.

Writing it out, like I am right now, I can see that I’m someone who can write about anxiety because I have experienced it. 

That not everyone will resonate with my words, but maybe you do Jenny. And if that's the case, I see you. 

And, like all of my own yoga teachers, I always want to show up speaking from a place of honesty. In yoga, satya is the concept of truthfulness—being honest with your thoughts, words, and actions—and that is how I try to show up in the world, whether it’s on the mat or in your inbox. 

So, as someone whose mind chatter is often filled with worries, I will share two things that have personally been helpful for me. 

Firstly, I actually made time to be a student and do a yoga class. I'll admit I’m having some mind chatter about admitting this, but I know how hard it feels to create space for myself sometimes. But ohhhh it is worth it. There’s a reason we have a saying in yoga:

Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha

Which means, yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.

And secondly, for the nights when I feel completely overwhelmed and overstimulated, when my baby has been yelling and I have a dozen chores to complete, I’ve been doing a simple grounding practice called “Five Things”.

I will sit down, wherever I can, and name five things I can see directly in front of me, connecting me with the physical space. 

I will then close my eyes and notice four things that I can feel.

Keeping my eyes closed, I will listen carefully and name three things I can hear.

Then two things I can smell. 

And finally, one thing I can taste.

I find this to be a really helpful grounding practice that gets me out of my head and into the moment. 

If you have any go-to tips to manage the moments your mind chatter is particularly loud, we would love you to share them.

Sending you love and lots of spring sunshine.


Samantha

Another thing that helps ground me in the moment is sitting with this beautiful group, pictured at our recent book club meet up!