Here are the things I rely on the most to stay centered and peaceful every day. Born out by science and tradition, and my personal experience:

1) A daily physical practice. This is a baseline that I always return to. Exercise improves the whole system, including elevating one’s mood.

Ideally one is doing something to strengthen the whole body, or get the quads burning at minimum. 3 times/week is a great baseline, with a rest day or two in between physical practice to allow for the body to benefit from the work by building up the tissues (ie. muscles and bones!) that have been put under load. Resting right after the workout, and getting good sleep, are an important part of this cycle; skipping these does not pay!

Creating a daily yoga practice, in particular, could be its own post, and if you're interested in my writing that, let me know. For now, suffice it to say, yoga asanas offer a unique gift toward both physical and spiritual healing.

2) Nadi Shodhana, alternate nostril breathing, is a pranayama (breathing) technique which works exactly as its name implies: In yoga, nadis are the channels of flowing energy in the body, and Shodhana means "cleansing." So this breath literally calms and cleanses the whole nervous system. For me this feels like re- booting my brain and recalibrating it to my spirit. All the mental whirlpools that my mind gets caught in get reset, and suddenly things make sense again; I can think clearly. I find Nadi Shodhana easy and fun, and on a hectic day I've been known to do it sitting in the car for a reset.

3) Finally, pressing on certain accupressure points can help release anxiety, depression, and stress. Check out this illustrated article on the topic, and see which points work for you. In 2017 when I was going through a very stressful time, I found the ear point Shen Men very helpful. It's so easy to pinch one’s ear!

May you know peace, in the core of your being, even in challenging times,

Amy