The other day I was having one of those days.

My toddler was screaming on the floor because I’d moved his “bull-truck” to the wrong position on the couch (apparently).

I felt like my brain was operating on about 5% capacity from being woken god-knows-how-many-times the night before. (Just like pretty much every night over the past 2 years!)

The dishwasher door was open with only half the dishes put away, clumps of dried-up scrambled eggs were littered all over the table, floor and my son’s booster seat, and the sight of my looong to-do list, and the knowledge that I had SO. LITTLE. TIME was enough to make by breath shorten, my shoulders tense even more and my heart to speed up a little.

 

When Luca finally went down for his nap at midday, every FIBRE of being wanted to tear through the house like speedy gonzalez getting shit done and ticking off that to-do list in the 90 mins I had to do about 5 hours worth of stuff. (Yes, I’m a type-A in case you’re wondering)

 

But thankfully, a wiser, kinder part of me knew better.

 

I went into my yoga room, reclined back on a bolster and closed my eyes. I spent a few moments checking in with myself. Acknowledging my low energy. Noticing my short, shallow breath. And feeling into those spots in my body that felt tense and tight.

 

I started lengthening and deepening my breath, inhaling for a count of 4, exhaling for a count of 6. Gradually my breaths became longer and deeper. I infused each breath with kindness and compassion for myself, and placed a hand over my heart.

 

I took a few more restorative poses that I knew were calming for the nervous system…

 

Wide-legged forward fold on a bolster.

 

Legs up the wall.

 

Pigeon pose.

 

The whole thing took about 15 minutes.

 

But the change was dramatic.

 

I felt restored (no wonder it’s called restorative yoga!)

 

I felt calm, grounded and like my self again.

 

I went back to my day maintaining some of that connection to my breath and to my body, and wasn’t so easily swept away by everything.

 

Honestly, without yoga I reckon I would be a wreck. Definitely I think the severe anxiety I used to suffer from would be back on the regular.

 

So if you’re a busy mum struggling with overwhelm, anxiety, low mood or burnout, I want to share with you exactly HOW yoga is able to help you reclaim some calm, inner peace and reconnection with YOUR deeper self. (I don’t know about you, but I usually need some pretty impressive FACTS to inspire me to start something new!)

1. It Develops your SEVENTH sense

Yes, you read that right, not your 6th but your 7th sense: interoception.

 

Interoception is your ability to be tuned-in to your own body. To be able to notice if you’re hungry, need to pee, feel tight and achey or are breathing to rapidly for example.

 

Why’s this important?

 

Firstly, because it means we can act on this info and take better care of ourselves. (Notice how it was me being aware of my tension and breathing that made me get on the mat that day? I was responding to my interoception cues). And secondly, good interoception helps you to break unconsious patterns of tension in your muscles and nervous system, literally unwinding the effects of stress.

 

Interstingly, interoception is also strongly linked to our felt sense of self and identity, and one thing I hear from mums in my clinic (and that I can totally relate to), is that they often feel disconnected from their true selves in the rush of their days and their constant caring for others. That’s why even after 15 mins of my little yoga practice that day, I inexplicably felt like “me” again.

2. A regulated breath is literally a game-changer

When we’re stressed, as I noticed that day, our breath gets shallower and faster. This in turn ramps up the fight/flight response even more.

 

The long, deep, mindful breaths in yoga (especially the longer exhales I was doing that day) are able to switch off that stress response and activate the relaxation response.

 

Relaxed breathing patterns are able to have a huge impact on our bodies and minds, from reducing blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension to boosting our moods, energy levels and even our immune systems.

3. It can stop you being such a Debbie Downer!

Yoga practice, with it’s focus on breathing and interoception, naturally develops mindfulness. (Especially slower forms of yoga like yin or restorative).

 

And mindfulness has been proven to break mental habits of negative mind-wandering, and instead help us stay more present and engaged with the moment. (Suuuuuper important for both anxiety wich can have a lot of scary “what-if” thoughts and fears and for depression which can have a lot of negative rumination and dwelling on the past.)

 

Think of it as literally just giving your mind a break for once!

4. It actually induces the happy chemicals

Yoga has been proven to increase neurotransmitters such as calming GABA, mood-boosting serotonin, and feel-good dopamine. One study even found that GABA increased by 27% after just one 60-min session.

(To give you some context, GABA is the same neurotransmitter that valium acts on…so yoga is literally a natural valium, minus the side-effects and risks of addiction!)

5. Yoga makes you an ALPHA

 

No, I don’t mean some tanned dude with muscles, a lambo and a trophy wife…

 

I’m talking about your brain waves – yoga can change them from BETA to ALPHA.

 

When we’re stressed, anxious and worrying we’re usually in a beta state characterised by short, fast brain waves. But when we are feeling relaxed, calm and conten the brain has slower alpha waves.

 

Deeper yoga and meditation can even take you into the theta, delta and gamma realms which can precipitate deep rest, healing, creativity and flow-states.

 

So, pretty impressive right?

 

Now, I know (like me) you probably wish you could do a 90 minute studio class every day, or even better, a 2 week yoga retreat in a balmy, bamboo yoga shala in Bali, but trust me, you don’t need that to start reaping the benefits.

 

Consistency is where it’s at, even if it’s just little 5-15 minute “yoga shots” as I call them.

 

It might even just be one pose with deep breathing. Or you might do a short 15 minute restorative class on youtube. (I have a longer 25 min one here if you’re feeling luxurious).

 

The point is, get it in – you’ll notice a big difference, even with a small amount.

 

In the comments below I would LOVE to hear from you! Do you practice yoga regularly? Are you a total noob? Are you going to give some “yoga shots” a try!