Full disclosure: I’m not a psychologist or doctor of any sort. I also recognize that there are real mental health conditions that require treatment and medical attention. I would never want diminish to the magnitude of any of that.

The purpose of this blog, however, is to talk about mental hygiene. Like brushing your teeth or getting your routine check-ups with your doctor, mental hygiene is a preventative routine that you can start on the daily to keep your mental health healthier. Mental health is something we rarely talk about, yet it (ironically) is a huge problem in American society.
Check out a snapshot of what America’s mental health looks like:

• In 2017, suicide was ranked as the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.
• Conditions like PTSD, substance abuse, depression and anxiety are skyrocketing as America deals with the pandemic.
• Mental health concerns among American youth (age 12-17) are rising at an unprecedented pace.

Whether we choose to have the conversation or not, the issue of mental health is clearly prevalent in our society. Health care providers are in agreement that the American healthcare system is not currently set up for the onslaught of care needed to support these issues. If mental hygiene was a more routine element of our healthcare system and our own self-care protocols, perhaps some of these conditions could be offset before they escalate. Let’s explore what the term, mental hygiene, means and of course, I’m also going to nudge you toward adding yoga into the mental hygiene mix.

Ways To Create Your Mental Hygiene Routine:

Understand what mental hygiene means. Mental hygiene is akin to something you do on a regular basis to prevent a health condition. You might compare it to flossing your teeth, visiting your dentist for regular check-ups or going to the doctor for yearly cancer screenings. You do these things are recommended by the medical community BEFORE there is a problem. So, similarly, you can take some solid steps on your own to, hopefully, offset a mental health issue before it occurs. Another beneficial aspect of good mental hygiene practices is that, should a mental health issue arise, you’ll be better equipped to deal with it. 

Explore a wide variety of modalities. Everyone is different. Everyone’s lifestyle, budget and personal preferences are variable, so here are some ideas to get you started. It’s a good start, but you can create the list of things that are feasible for your life and appeal to your personal tastes. Choose a variety of activities to support your overall mood and happiness. You might explore art, physical exercise, yoga (more on that next), acupuncture, nature, support networks of friends, healthy eating and sleeping regimens and avoidance of triggering or negative situations, including social media or television. Finding these small incremental activities that contribute to your sense of peace and happiness and prioritizing them can make all the difference. 

Ask for help when you need it. Do you think it’s a sign of weakness or a burden to ask for help? It’s a strange thing that society teaches many of us. Somehow we’re trained to believe that it’s better to keep things inside rather than reach out when we need help or feel sad. The real truth is, however, that asking for help or being vulnerable takes strength and courage. In my humble opinion, the real heroes are the ones who admit when they are hurting and take steps to heal themselves. If it were easier and more acceptable to access help when we need it, perhaps the mental health crisis in America would not exist.

Practice yoga. If you love Instagram (like this blogger), you’ve likely come across the beautiful model-types on IG that can contort their bodies into shapes that make you wonder if they actually  have bones. These pictures are fun to look at, but yoga is much more than a pose (asana). Yoga is about your breath, your mind and, of course, we could write an entire blog about the physical benefits of yoga, but at its core, yoga is a moving meditation. The mental health benefits of practicing yoga and meditation on a consistent basis are supported by countless studies from sources like the American Psychological Association, researchers and medical journalists at Harvard and UCLA, as well as countless other medical journals and publications. So the case for starting a yoga practice is solid, here are some tips if you are beginning or jumping back onto the yogic path: 

• Keep trying until you find something you like. There are many types of yoga from heated to Vinyasa to Raja to Kundalini to Ashtanga. You may find you like more than one kind. You may find that multiple styles of practice suit your needs. You can also explore different teaching styles (large classes, hot studios, online sources, private sessions, etc.) until you find the one that you like. 
• Yoga is meditation. If you have physical ailments that prevent you from moving, you can still focus on meditation and breath work as part of your mental hygiene. In fact, spoiler alert this is what it’s all about. Downward dog is fun, but without breath work and meditation, it lacks the deeper benefits.
• Be consistent. Doing yoga when you’re in a bad mood or stressed out is a good idea, but doing yoga consistently to help you deal with the stressors in your life is a better idea. Your consistent yoga practice won’t eliminate things that trouble you, it will better equip you to deal with them. 

Yoga may not be the answer to all the issues surrounding the mental health crisis facing our country, but it can and will continue to feature as a way to calm conditions like stress, mild depressions and anxiety. Even for more severe instances of mental health issues, many therapists are recommending yoga to patients as another outlet to help in the healing process. But, why wait until there’s an issue to take care of your mental health? That’s the idea. Start now and prevent, be prepared and stay healthy!

Pop Up Yoga exists to help bring more yoga to the world at large. Recognizing that not all yogis can make it into a studio, Pop Up Yoga offers private group or one-on-one yoga sessions as well as yoga for corporations, online classes via Zoom and yoga-themed special events.
 
Contact Pop Up Yoga if you’d like to learn more about current offerings or to create your own Pop Up Yoga event.

 

 

COVID-19 swept through the world and forced us into our homes in the early months of 2020. The experience is still raw as many of us had loved ones that were impacted by the virus, and our optimistic freedom still appears to be on shaky ground as we watch daily numbers of cases increase.

This shelter-in-place scenario was a shock to most of our systems. We couldn't go out into the world around us and partake in the things that give us pleasure. Even the simple things were suddenly out of reach like hugs and face to face interactions with, well, anyone outside those we live with. On a macro level, major league sports seasons have been canceled. The environment has seen unimaginable breaks from pollution and businesses have gone under. On a micro level, couples have broken up. Kids have flunked their virtual classes. Mental health conditions have skyrocketed. 2020 has been a watershed year for all of us collectively, and we're not even officially in summer yet.

The world is opening up at varying paces, but the inevitable "new normal" seems to be bouncing back at a full steam ahead pace. As the stubborn virus seems to still lurk in the background of our society, we're starting to carry on with our daily lives. Even though life is getting back to something similar to what it was before, I'd like to make the case for holding onto some of the adaptations we've made during this period.

Maybe we'll keep eating healthy, homemade foods. Maybe we'll keep going for walks and bike rides every day. Maybe we'll spend more time swimming in our neglected pools. Maybe we'll unapologetically lie in bed with coffee and a good book more frequently. Maybe  we'll appreciate those times when we do hug and have more gratitude for that casual encounter with a friend. AND, maybe we'll still take Zoom yoga classes. I know, I know...you prefer to be in the yoga studio side by side with your yogi friends, sweating it out in a hot room and guided by the voice of your favorite teachers. But, hear me out, my case for keeping Zoom yoga around is strong. 

 6 Reasons Why Zoom Yoga Should Stay On Your Radar Post Pandemic:
 

1. You can access teachers that aren't local. During quarantine, I had the pleasure of taking classes with world-renowned yoga teachers - ones that I would probably never have had the opportunity to learn from otherwise.  Going forward, in normal times, I hope that teachers from around the country and the world will keep their offerings online so we can dabble in different types of yoga and improve our practice.
2. You can skip the commute. Did anyone see the images of the clear waters of the canals in Venice or clear skies in Los Angeles during the quarantine? Mother Earth got a much-needed break from human pollution during our shelter-in-place period. Zoom yoga typically entails a few steps to the bedroom or the garage or the patio - no fossil fuel. It's good for the environment, your budget and your time spectrum (which for most of us is maxed out). 
3. You can drop your ego. The ego is a part of group yoga practice and life in general. Inevitably, the bendy girl next to you can make you feel inadequate if you can't get your heel up to your ear or you might go deeper into a pose than your body actually should because you get caught up in the moment (and the guy next to you is doing it). You might also be fearful of trying an asana in-studio, but feel comfortable to try (and even fail) in the privacy of your own home. Zoom yoga reduces the role of the ego and allows the yogi to be free to move and meditate.
4. You can stay consistent. Consistency is an important component of getting the most out of your yoga practice. Many students pop into a yoga class now and then but don't feel connected to their practice. They may even give up on yoga because they miss out on the multitudes of benefits that yoga can offer. Practicing consistently can, not only, help you tap into strength and the physical benefits of the practice, but it can allow you to quiet the mind and allow for a more meditative flow.
5. You won't need a babysitter. When the kids are small, parents have trouble breaking away on a consistent basis. Zoom yoga has your solution, busy parents. Put the baby to sleep and jump into child's pose in your living room! (Who needs yoga more than a stressed out parent?)
6. You have access. Through the power of technology, you gain access to yoga that you may not have had before. Yoga has the power to reduce physical pain, increase overall health and, if you're not careful, make you a happier person. The benefits of yoga are profound, and access via Zoom yoga classes can help raise the collective wellbeing. More access equals more yoga.

​While so many difficult things resulted from the quarantine period, some good, unintended consequences happened. In this yogi's humble opinion, one of the most beautiful things that went down during the pandemic of 2020 was the connections it created. Connections between people who had never met before and even those who had known each their whole lives. Many thanks to technology platforms like Zoom and others. 

As we go about our busy lives in normal times, we often get set in our ways, too busy to break out and take notice of something new. CoronaVirus forced us to rethink our comfort zone and find new ways to connect. It forced us to do the things we never had time to do. The results:

• A friend who never had time finally took a friend's yoga class.
• A sister who finally got the chance to see what it's like to practice yoga with her little sister as her teacher - even if she lives in another state.
• International students were able to tap into peace offered many time zones away by masterful teachers.
• And so on and so on.

I hope life stays normal, and we look back in awe of the events that happened in 2020 as an anomaly never to be repeated. I also hope that when we look back, we appreciate the things we took for granted and hold on to the things that made a difference - one of those being, perhaps, Zoom yoga. 

Yes, of course, I'm continuing my Zoom yoga class, I teach an all levels Zoom yoga class on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM EST - contact me for information!

Or explore the many offerings from Pop Up Yoga including outdoor yoga events open to the public, private one-on-one or small group as well as events and corporate yoga classes. What did you have in mind for your Pop Up yoga event?