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Health & Fitness

Why am I always so tired?

Four sisters, four voices, one fresh advice/opinion column. Each sister of Health Yoga Life is a Certified Coach &Yoga Teacher. ASK AWAY: coaching@healthyogalife.com

Exhaustion is not the only option…

Blame it on the seasons changing; blame it on the alarm clock; blame it on too many birthday parties. Because it feels way worse to blame it on diet, sedentary lifestyle, or inability to decline a glass of the ‘oh so sophisticated’ Sancerre. What is this elusive “it”? Exhaustion.  Many of our clients list “feeling tired” as something they want to change. Walking around in a dazed stupor is a growing habit of society pushed to increasingly perform to support themselves, their family, and the lifestyle that The Sunday Times projects as the norm e.g. chalet ski weekends, interior design projects, and hosting larger than life holidays (simultaneously).

Exhaustion is a physical and mental state. Like wind under a kite, the moment you stop pushing outward you collapse into a heap upon yourself. This is something that yoga and meditation accelerate; no! not collapsing, but rather allowing the mind and the body to slow down so you can take stock of energy levels. Our same students leave in different ways on different days – because yoga helps them get in touch with how they feel, rather than what they (or others) expect of them. When exhausted you really can’t be present for others: standing at your kid’s recital looks supportive, but if all you can think about is the next thing on the to-do list, your support is seen…but not felt

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Do not let others down by the lack of your true, energetic presence. You owe it to them and to yourself to recharge. A great start is creating boundaries. Only keep engagements to which you personally want to go, not ones where you feel you should go. It may be a grammar school adage, but as we age it is even more true that ‘you are what you eat’. Eliminate sugar and processed fats because they use more energy to digest, thereby giving you less energy to spend elsewhere. Practice yoga& meditate! These will help you create healthier parameters with others because you will be in tune to your own psycho-physical needs.    

Our yoga Beach ‘n Retreat is truly the best recharge because only by fully unplugging are we able to recoup our energy:

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Imagine a week of never having to make the bed, unload the dishwasher, or answer to anyone – except you! The only sound in the morning is the ocean breeze wafting through cacti. A super-food diet is provided, which coupled with daily yoga classes and walks will help shed exhaustion (not to mention pounds!). Each morning of the retreat you will awake closer and closer to your true self; by the end, you won’t recognize your own reflection! Promise!

In the meantime try these to bring in balance: * add lemon, lime, or slice of cucumber to your water * mix your own salad dressing and dips so you control quality of oils and reduce hidden sugars * get off one T-stop earlier and walk that additional way * learn to say no * upon waking, make a conscious decision of what time it is ‘lights out’ in your bedroom for that coming night * breathe deeply, make choices slowly and be cognoscente of consequences * practice yoga twice a week.  If any of these exceed what you think you can do, commit to just 5-minutes of intentional rest a day (phone/radio/tv off, alone and feet up).

If you can’t do any of the above, it is time to call a Health Yoga Life coach.

                                                  ~ by Zara Bielkus, co-founder Health Yoga Life

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