Finding a New Normal within Uncertainty
Oh Boy, what a crazy start to the week! I had a completely different idea for what I would write about this week, and yet so much has changed with the Covid-19 Pandemic arising. Such an unexpected turn of events from last week to where we are now. Within just a couple of days we've had to temporarily shut down our studio for an unknown amount of time, and I've been working around the clock to get my business back up and running virtually to be able to continue to teach and care for my clients.
It's interesting trying to be in the present moment when so much is turned upside-down and uncertain. I would love to turn away from it and just watch tv for a few days, and nap waiting it out. And I think that's great to do if needed for a little bit. However, I know I'll feel better jumping right in and getting a foundation to settle into whatever this new normal is for the time being. There are SO many different things on my mind, and it's SO easy to get stuck bouncing between each one, without truly focusing and accomplishing much of anything. It can feel like a ping-pong ball just reacting quickly off of everything.
It's quite scary to suddenly have enormous change. Also, if I'm looking for a silver lining, it is exciting to be given the space to take time to create and innovate. Often, life will make the change for us and we have to adapt. It reminds me of the saying that goes something such as: "Plans are what you make when you want to make God laugh". And it's so true. The only constant in life is change. We have no control over it, but we do have control over our reactions. Mine is generally a mix of jumping into getting a routine, working hard, and freaking out for a few days until I get a bit settled. Our reactions can change how we feel, and can alter the outcome and experience of the situation.
Through anxiety and fear, we need to take a step back. We need to pause, center ourselves, breathe. Placing the feet on the floor and the hands to the chest can feel very grounding and centering. Feel where the body is in your space. How do the feet feel on the floor? How do the hands feel pressed together or into the chest? Do you feel equal weight across the feet? How about from toes to heels? Placing the mind to focus on those sensations allows everything to still and silence at least for a moment. Add a deep inhale to that, and the whole body can open, then slowly exhale through the nose, and the body and nervous system can calm down one notch.
At the moment, every industry is being hit hard by the viral Pandemic. Many people in the fitness industry, artists, performers, restaurant and small business owners, etc., have had their next month's schedule decimated, and have had their next month's expected income minimized significantly, if not vanished completely. In these times it's scary, it's unsettling. I have been anxious all weekend as I've navigated a new schedule with my clients, with some who I will be able to keep teaching for the time being in their own homes, some only online, and some who can't do either right now. My income was cut in 1/4 overnight, and may continue to reduce depending on how the next few weeks progress with "social distancing" and (hopefully) a diminishing in the rate of new cases. I'm hoping that this temporary new normal will create a space for me to have time to learn, to create new ideas, to come up with new content to help clients in new ways, and to connect with other practitioners.
I do think that technology can help us connect while we are socially distanced, and technology can help us teach while away from our patients and clients. I've seen the increase in demand for teledoc, and virtual fitness such as the infamous Peloton, and other class streaming services. I've been interested in how we could use this in Physical Therapy with TelePT, or for Corrective Exercise and Pilates training, without being able to manually adjust or physically correct our clients. With virtual classes, I assume I will find it a challenge to not be in the same space as the clients I'm teaching, as I feel that the physical connection makes such a difference for clients in managing chronic pain, in understanding how to do a movement, in centering to the moment, and in connecting practitioner to client.
So, in this time of uncertainty, here's to hoping we can all come together, stay calm while staying cautious, and create some new ideas in this forced slowing down of our always-on, rapid lifestyles. It's also a good time to remind everyone to keep an active lifestyle, since exercise, as always, is important in keeping both the mind and body healthy and vigorous.
Stay safe, stay calm, stay vigilant.
Other tips for staying healthy:
Wash and sanitize hands before eating.
Wash hands after being outside.
Don't touch your face.
Connect with friends and family via video chats and phone calls.
Get fresh air and sunshine (while staying away from crowds).
Clean your phone, and other high-touch areas (light switches, railings, door knobs, countertops).
Stay hydrated.
Stay physically active (there are plenty of exercises we can do while staying at home).
Stay informed by reading credible sources, but also take breaks from all the media.
Get enough sleep.
Stay mentally stimulated through reading, doing music, drawing, writing, meditating, etc.
Engage in a relaxation/centering/breathing practice in order to reduce stress and relax the sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight/freeze). This can help lower your stress level and boost the immune system.
March Matness!
Practicing some #MarchMatness poses in my "new studio" aka my "home office" aka...my living room.