“Yoga is an energy management system”.- Lauren Toolin
This is one of the first descriptions of yoga that resonated with me and helped me begin to understand why I could walk into class feeling worn and agitated and leave feeling refreshed, clear, less stuck in the grip of the residue of my day.
I now consider it a joyful act to take responsibility for my own energy; recognizing that how I am in an environment matters as much as what I do in an environment. If I am disregulated, heightened or overwhelmed, the individuals I support will feel this and may mirror that experience. If I am calm, clear, consistent and modeling self regulation, the energy of a room can shift as a result of that presence. All of this requires cultivation of deep listening. I ask, “How can I hear more than what is communicated with more than my ears?”. This inquiry leads to honing observation skills and noticing needs. When the need is named, we can begin to respond to support ourselves or the person whom we are in relationship with at the time.
Part of the energy management I’m speaking to includes stress management. Part of naming needs is being able to identify stressors. Part of cultivating deep listening is attuning to our own breath, body and inner knowing. These are some of the skills we will build and explorations we will engage in during my Breathing Easy Stress Management workshop. You can find out more here.