I would say I started my well-being journey 15 years ago.  At the time I was having severe migraines, like for weeks at a time. I tried medication, but the side effects weren’t something I could live with.  When I suggested a holistic approach to my physician, she responded with “are you really willing to do the work.” We created a plan that included water, diet, exercise, and sleep.  But the exercise was to include yoga and meditation.

A good friend was an avid yoga practitioner.  She advised me to get a 10-lesson pass because the first few were going to be hard, the next few were going to hurt, and it wouldn’t be until the 10th session that I would realize that I could do it. I’m happy to report that by the end of the first class, my headache was gone for teh first time in weeks. Big disclaimer…this doesn’t work for everyone. This was just my experience.  And I had to stick with it in order to maintain the relief.

I was lucky because I found a studio that worked for me and “got me” from the beginning.  But if you aren’t that lucky, don’t give up.  Keep searching until you find the person, the class, the activity, the tool, that works with who you are and where you are.

Since then I’ve tried a lot of other practices, and I still try new ones all of the time.  But as of this moment, September 5, 2024, here are my favorite tools:

  1. Nature – you’ll hear it over and over again. I love nature. I find it to be so healing.  I recently read Florence Williams’ book “The Nature Fix.” She added the science to what I feel when I’m in nature.  And you don’t have to be some avid, extreme sport, adventurer (though you can be). Something as simple as walking outside for 5 minutes, standing in the grass barefoot, repotting a plant, all have the same impact.
  2. Breathing – I know…I know.  We do it naturally.  But intentional breathing is not as easy as it sounds. I find focusing on the breath and getting a few deep inhales and exhales will calm me and put me in a different space. Sometimes I start my day with breath work, sometimes before I respond to a challenging email, sometimes because I realized I haven’t had a deep breath in a while.
  3. Chopping Vegetables – Get a laugh in.  But for me, the mindful attention to NOT cut my finger off means I’m highly present and focused. This calms me. You may find the same thing when you are playing a guitar, doing woodworking, washing dishes, or any other activity that requires total presence. For me, it’s chopping vegetables.
  4. Exercise – A walk, a hike, a bike ride, yoga, or any other activities that just gets me moving
  5. Laughing – My girlfriends are good for this.  But finding something to get a good belly laugh does wonders. I even find that laughing at myself because I lost something or can’t find the keys is a winner for my welling.  And it sure beats getting frustrated

You’ll notice that yoga isn’t on my list right now.  It’s because I’m in a place where I’m having a challenging relationship with the practice. I’m sure it will make its way back up, but this is why having a lot of tools and tricks is so important on your journey. They’ll rotate in and out over time.

What are your favorite practices?