A couple of weeks ago I was talking with a mentor of mine, podcast host and founder of Pelvic Health Professionals, Shannon Crow. We’ve both been noticing a lot of yoga teachers, wellness and healthcare professionals that we connect and work with have been feeling overwhelmed and burnt out lately.

We discussed the steps we personally take to support ourselves when we’re feeling pulled thin and wicks burning too low.

When Shannon asked me what baby steps I personally take, the first one that came to mind was acknowledging and accepting whatever I’m feeling without judgment. It's not always easy to do, especially at the beginning, but I've found it's one of the most important steps. My exact words to her were,

“The first baby step is to acknowledge how you’re actually feeling. In my case, I kept ignoring my feelings and just kept pushing… this did NOT help me feel more confident, it just pulled me under more. So, acknowledge those feelings, it’s okay not to be okay.”

By acknowledging how we feel, with no judgement, no criticism, we take our first step in making the shifts we need to make to support ourselves.

After our conversation, Shannon asked me if she could use some of my words on her upcoming podcast episode for The Connected Yoga Teacher, which is all about resting and refueling. (I obviously said, YES!!)

In the podcast episode, Shannon says that she asks herself two questions each morning,

“1) How am I feeling?

2) What baby steps can I take to bring more ease and comfort in this tough moment?”

After she checks-in with herself, Shannon's better able to implement whatever small steps she can during her day to support herself so that she feels more energetic, focused and relaxed.

One example Shannon gave was to call a good friend and chat. The laughs and conversation really helped her feel more supported and energized. (Social connections are incredibly helpful to relieve stress and overwhelm!)

If you’d like to hear the full podcast episode filled with rest and refuel goodies from Shannon (and a quotation from me!), head on over to The Connected Yoga Teacher.

>> Click here to listen to the Podcast Episode #308

And, as always, if you are ever struggling with stress, overwhelm or burnout and unsure of how to support yourself, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

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