When you're low, you lose your natural willpower instinct. All too often, overtreating and subsequently ending up high later, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
We've all been there. 3am with a severe low, and suddenly all dietary rules are thrown out the window. I'm low, so I deserve this whole pint of ice cream! Then we wake up at 300 mg/dL, and our entire day is ruined. Regardless of whether you've mastered these moments or not, being low is scary and uncomfortable. In fact, the tighter control you have over your blood sugars, the higher the likelihood of experiencing lows. The old 15/15 rule holds true today, but it is not always realistic, especially when hypoglycemia sensations are so intense. It's easy to overreact and overtreat our lows. In this video, I'll walk you through a yoga therapy practice to develop willpower amid hypoglycemia. I have adapted this practice from the work of Dr. Kelly McGonnigal and her book the Willpower Instinct. The Steps of Hypoglycemia Willpower are: 1. Notice the thought, feeling or craving. 2. Accept and attend to the inner experience. 3. Breathe and give your brain and body a chance to pause and plan. 4. Broaden your attention and look for an action that will help you achieve your goal. 5. Treat the low. 6. Sit or lie down and repeat steps 1-4, consciously shaping the breath for up to 15 minutes. At which, retest and treat again if numbers have not resolved to normal levels. I recommend practicing this first when you're not low and then applying it when you are. See how it helps you recognize your cravings, attend to the experience, plan appropriately, and remain centered during one of the most challenging side-effects of diabetes. You've got this!
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Last week, I offered a masterclass on rewiring the stress response.
Rewatch it here. We talked a lot about how the breath is the one thing we can do to consciously train the nervous system and stress response to be more adaptive and resilient against stress. I wanted to share an additional technique we did not have time to cover fully; Swara Yoga, the ancient tantric science of studying the breath. In this guided breath-awareness and meditation, we'll create a balance between the left nostril (ida) and right nostril (pingala) to prepare the body and mind for a meditation at the third eye. Every 90-minutes, nasal predominance changes side to side, mainly shaping your energetic condition. When the right is predominant, you are active; you are more receptive when the left dominant. There are times when you need to be proactive and other times when it is necessary to open. Think leading a lecture vs. receiving a lecture. Our ability to influence these energetic paradigms is the key to health and wellbeing and one of the most remarkable yogic accomplishments. Not all stress is equal. In fact, stress can help us live happier, more meaningful lives. Part of the process of rewiring stress lies in our perception of it as good or bad, and the strength of our adaptive responses.
Learn more about the science of stress and how yoga therapy can help you train your nervous system to be more resilient against stressors, improving health, happiness and joy. We'll learn about: ✖️History of stress and its negative connotation ✖️Neuroscience of stress - anatomy and systems involved ✖️Transforming negative stress into positive stress ✖️Yoga psychology's view on the mind ➕Breathing practices to train your stress responses. For yoga students, yoga teachers, and yoga therapists. Please leave you comments below! How did this shift your mindset of stress? |
AuthorEvan Rachel Soroka Archives
November 2021
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