How Yoga taught me to deal with coronavirus fears
The impact of coronavirus
Coronavirus is changing the way we view the world. We spend our days differently now, listening to the news about the developments and the impact the pandemic has on fellow human beings.
It’s not easy to find our emotional center these days.
Everybody is scared and wondering how to protect their health, their families, teams, and communities. We all worry about the future and how to deal with everything. It’s sad, but true, that often fear, anxiety, and worry take over.
We can’t travel freely, but we can go inward and reflect on what matters most to us. So, I’ve decided to share my own journey and how yoga is helping me to deal with all those emotions.
My journey
Until a little while ago, I was doing OK. I recently started teaching yoga and felt confident that my skills and devotion would serve me well. And they did.
I managed to get some really useful marketing advice—both authentic and feasible—and things were picking up. I booked classes at a second studio and even started thinking about organizing my very first retreat. My tribe was taking form, and I was finally able to pay my bills without too much stress.
And then coronavirus showed up.
At first, like all of us, I thought this wasn’t really going to affect my community and me. Yep, that’s what I thought. What happened to people in China wouldn’t happen to me, to us. But it did. As I’m writing this now, this crisis isn’t anywhere near the end.
Facing my fears
My first day at home I got so afraid.
- Afraid for my health and the health of the people in my family and my community.
- Afraid about how to manage financially when nobody even goes near a yoga studio.
- Afraid about how our world is going to be when this is all over.
Fear and worry can be overwhelming, but thanks to my yoga and meditations, I soon realized that I needed to deal with those emotions. But how am I supposed to deal with what’s happening? How shall I deal with this fear?
I know that it’s necessary to give room to all these negative emotions. It’s important to sit with them and acknowledge them. So, I did. I decided to give myself permission to feel frustrated, disappointed, sad, and afraid.
Accept negative emotions. But for how long? And what happens next?
Yoga principles
Next comes Yama aparigraha, the yogi principle of non-attachment to remind me that life is about the journey, not the destination. In the yogic text, the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna teaches us that we should only concern ourselves with ACTION and not the results of our actions. The fruits of action must never drive and motivate us, but rather we should concern ourselves with actually DOING and moving towards results. So often we worry about success and being ‘good enough,’ and we forget why we started in the first place.
Same with coronavirus. Let’s not view this as a roadblock, a devastating distraction, but rather an opportunity to meditate and redefine our purpose. Let’s dive into the rhythm of life, with all its surprises and challenges, and accept change. Change is inevitable; it’s the only constant in life. Let’s focus on the journey, practice non-attachment from the outcome, and devote ourselves to daily action.
Dedicating time to asana, deep breathing, and meditation practices also helps make the most of all this time at home. A great opportunity to be present, to breathe, and to let go.
My transformation
So yes, that’s how yoga transformed my life, even though I’m still safely isolated inside my house. I know it’s my duty to do my best whatever life throws at me, at us. Yoga taught me to continue to give my best to everything I do and not to be attached to the outcome.
Only by accepting what is happening and focusing on progress and our daily actions can we truly better our lives.
Perhaps it’s even up to us yogis, to contribute to this social awakening, to be driven and active and caring. To do our best to ignite change, respect, collaboration, and unity. I know at least one tribe at the Yoga Loft that stands for that, despite all adversity.
Maybe this will be our chance to bring more yoga to the world. A world that will need to heal its wounds and move forward when coronavirus is behind us.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi
P.S. I would love to hear how you process coronavirus fears and all that is happening around us. Send me a reply with your thoughts, and let’s connect. Consider this an open invitation to my tribe! See you there.
