April 15, 2024
This month’s blog post written by Pye Marshall
Getting Unstuck
Feeling a bit stuck lately? Yea, me too. Something about that spring buzz makes me feel extra pressured to be productive… And that often times gets me stuck in the feelings of “not doing enough”.
I think part of being human is feeling stuck from time to time. When it happens, and I recall my trainings in Ayurveda and Yoga to shake off stagnant energy and get back into my flow.
Here’s some of my go-to’s…
Ayurvedic Insight:
According to Ayurveda, when we accumulate “ama” we start to feel heavy and sluggish. Spring is the perfect time for a cleanse (hello, spring cleaning!) But before you totally jump into re-organizing your closet like I did this past weekend, keep in mind your body needs cleaning too.
To achieve that fresh, balanced feeling in my body, I opt for warm & light meals and try to stay hydrated with plenty of water. My go-to warm & light meal is steamed broccoli over rice with a drizzle of tahini (or your fav’ sauce / spices).
Give this a go one day this week - I bet your body will thank you!
p.s. we always need more water than we think we do.
Flow:
Nothing beats a good yoga sesh’ to get the energy flowing… and you already know we’ve got a ton of classes each week at BEND. But if you’re looking for something to do right now, here’s one of my favorite at-home movement practices: it’s called “5 Minutes to Move” (shoutout to Bonnie Weeks!!) I put on a ~5 minute song, and just move my body from pose to pose.
There are only 3 rules:
1. Commit to 5 minutes
2. Keep it flowing
3. Try not to repeat any poses
This practice may sound difficult, but I promise it is a ton of fun once you move past your inhibitions. Remember, movement is medicine!
Mantra Magic:
Have you ever tried chanting a mantra to shift your vibe? I know this gets a little abstract, so it’s important to remember that “mantra” simply translates to '“mind-tool”. Mantras are like good vibes in sound form and they are something you can repeat to help stay focused or reset your mind!
The one I’ve been repeating the past few days is:
“Om Gum Ganapataye Namaha” (Ganesha’s mantra)
Ohm - Gum - Gana - pa - ta - ye - Nama - ha
This mantra helps to remove obstacles and invite new possibilities! Try it in your home-meditation practice, or while walking outside in the spring sunshine!
Get Outside:
I swear, the most cathartic thing I can do for myself is to just step outside.
I have a practice of connecting my bare feet with the earth, but you don’t have to do that to feel the power of some fresh air. Try it now!! Just get up and walk outside without an agenda (shoes optional). Then, turn your face up toward the sky (bonus points if it’s the sunshine). Stand up tall with your heart forward, and take 3 deep belly breaths in and 3 sighs out.
See, you feel better just reading through this, don’t you?! Give it a try for real, I bet you’ll love it.
Journal Prompt:
If you’ve taken a workshop with me, you know that I spend a lot of time with my journal. Writing out my thoughts is that way that I articulate with the world around me. So, here’s what I’ve been reflecting on recently:
What is the area of life where I feel the most stuck?
What is one small, actionable step that I can take today to create movement in this area?
You don’t need a formal journaling practice to feel the benefits of getting things out of your head and onto paper. Just grab anything to write on and jot down a few reflective thoughts. It’s simple and effective.
Takeaway: Small Steps, Big Shifts
Getting unstuck doesn’t happen overnight. And sometimes, it can feel like we’re meant to be in the stuck for a bit of time to learn something about ourselves or our patience. But when you start to criticize or judge yourself is when it’s time to make a shift (here is where I admit to calling myself lazy TWICE yesterday)!
If you feel you’re in that spot, try to borrow some of the wisdom of Ayurveda & Yoga and the personal practices that I’ve shared above. Make yourself a warm & light meal, get some extra hydration, try movement of a fun new type, explore a mantra, get outside, or brainstorm through a journal prompt.
It’s the little steps that lead to big breakthroughs.
Interested in learning more?