Ending the week, a collection of tools for the long haul...

Immunity and resiliency go together. Here are a few things I’m doing to keep balanced as we surf the wave:

I’m eating as cleanly as possible, no red meat or chicken. I do indulge in some chocolate or a glass of wine most days. I have not given up coffee, though I drink mostly herbal tea now, peppermint if I’m working and chamomile or verbena if I’m trying to relax.

I lie in bed breathing deeply for a little while before I get up. I mind my thoughts and do my best to banish the worst case scenarios that knock at the door with such persistence:

Inhale through the nose deep and strong, all the way to the collarbones, filling completely. Exhale through the mouth, slow and long, releasing completely. Try to make the exhale slightly longer than the inhale. Repeat 4 - 8 times, minding the ‘turn around’ (between inhale and exhale, exhale and inhale). Let it go if you start to feel dizzy or anxious.

I don’t listen to the news until I’ve had some activity and breakfast. Then I get the gist of it from a reliable source and turn it off.

I take a long walk every day with my two dogs (they are delighted), and at least a few yoga asanas or qi gong to move the energy. If I want to shake off the blues, I do backbends or chest openers - the first brocade in qi gong (see link in earlier post), or a modified sun salutation, camel pose or dancing shiva in yoga. If I need to calm down, I do forward bends - child’s pose, standing forward bend - or savasana, or legs up the wall.

Check the pose finder on Yoga Journal’s website: https://www.yogajournal.com/pose-finder

Each day I try to tend my garden, or check in on my friends and relatives, or prepare delicious meals, to connect with life as best I can under the circumstances. I try to forgive myself when I am scattered and less than efficient, or just plain tired. I apologize when I nag my husband for not being careful and then I nag him again. I am still working in healthcare and in food service and feel scared to be out in the world but also deeply grateful to be a part of it, sharing my fate with so many courageous individuals. People are amazing in a crisis. Warm, big hearts and ready smiles are exchanged between subway and bus riders, grocery store clerks and patrons, nurses aides and their patients. We are not alone. Something sustains us yet. If you are working or studying at home, reach out to someone who still has to go out to work and ask them how they’re doing. You’ll both be glad you did!

Be well. Namaste.