Understand how transition based movement can support our stress and make us more mindful.
Transition based movement can benefit front line workers physically and mentally with their lived experience of stress. It is an excellent tool for processing trauma providing instruction remains invitational.
Chronic stress can create a physical disconnect, when disconnected and living solely in the mind, our judgement based thinking is greatly impaired. This is because most early warning signs happen in the body and it is difficult to act early if we aren't feeling it!
We often hear it said 'it's not about the destination it is about the journey' why? What happens on the journey affects your experience of the destination.
Movement is no different, and for our Yoga practice at YFL is key. The invitation to be curious and explore can have a number of positive effects for those working in high stress and trauma roles.
Breath Awareness
Loss of awareness can lead the body into being stuck in our sympathetic nervous system, resulting in conditions like anxiety and chronic stress. Breath awareness connects us directly to the body and supports regulation of the nervous system, supporting individuals into the parasympathetic nervous system. This is essential for rest and will greatly improve focus and concentration.
Body Awareness
By focusing on the body i.e. your breath, your foot, moving forwards, it encourages us to be present only in that moment. In being body present we create a space to reduce the mental chatter in that moment. It also fosters an awareness for recognising what stress looks like in your body. This is critical for catching early warning stress signs that we may be out of balance and the earlier we catch the more effectively we can deal with it.
Attention to detail
Feeling states in the body, how your weight shifts, muscle engagement. This type of awareness fosters mindfulness in the moment and can quieten the mind. Often when we step back out of that space we feel refreshed, creative and more focused.
Stress Reduction
Engaging the parasympathetic nervous system is key to our basic long term health. Stepping into transitional movement gets us out of the past or the future and supports what is happening in the now. It reduces pressure and regulates the nervous system which allows us to decompress. This is key for those is Front Line Roles.
The above creates a bridge for those working in high stress and trauma environments to work on efficiently stepping in and out of stress. This type of movement fosters mindfulness and regulation, creating a healthy body and mind connection.
A key part of the YFL protocol is Mindfulness and there are many ways this is fostered, movement is just one of them. We recently offered a free live practice on this topic, head on over to the channel to try it out.
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