As a busy nurse and mom, you probably spend a lot of time taking care of others and may neglect your own self-care in the process. But if you don’t take care of yourself, then who will? Self-care helps you show up better for others, improves your work performance, and reduces stress. There are many different ways to practice self-care, but one highly effective method is yoga. Yoga is a powerful tool that busy nurse moms can use to recharge their batteries and improve both their physical and mental health all at the same time.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is the physical practice of moving the body into structured poses to stretch connective tissue, strengthen muscles, and relax the nervous system. Yoga is mindfulness in movement; it incorporates breath awareness, meditation, and exercise all in one! This practice has its roots in a two thousand year old tradition, but it has morphed over time to incorporate psychosomatic healing techniques, stress relief methods, and mindfulness cultivation.
The Benefits of Yoga for Stress Reduction in Busy Nurse Moms
Yoga is a unique holistic practice because it truly targets the mind, body, and soul all at the same time. Many other self-care or stress relief methods only cover one of those domains. But yoga incorporates a variety of techniques into a single practice, which not only saves you time but also exponentially improves your wellbeing. As a busy nurse mom, you may struggle to find time to slow down, relax your mind, and simply pause. Yoga practice gives you an opportunity to get in your daily physical exercise while also allowing your mind a momentary reprieve from the stressors of life. The mindfulness components of yoga are especially helpful to busy nurse moms because they can give you specific techniques to improve concentration, find inner peace, and cultivate a compassionate state of mind.
How to Start a Mindful Yoga Practice – For Beginners
To begin your yoga and mindfulness practice, it is best to start under the guidance of a yoga teacher. Try checking out a local yoga studio or fitness center for classes. There are also many free yoga classes on YouTube or various phone applications. As a busy nurse mom, it is common to feel overwhelmed at times and as if you do not have the time to slow down and rest. But when you are most busy, these are actually the times when you need restorative practices like yoga and mindfulness the most. The key to starting any new practice is consistency. To truly gain the many benefits of yoga in your life, it is essential to incorporate it into your daily routine. Even just 5-minutes of yoga practice every day can help center your mind and renew your body. Start with something small, and over time you will begin to realize that yoga is the stress relief tool you’ve been missing!