Last
nights Optimal You Power Hour had the theme “Evaporating Stress – Moving From
Negative To Positive”, and I had been looking forward to it for a long time. As
an event that was sold out weeks in advance, I knew this Power Hour at
Yogalilies was going to be a huge hit. Yogalilies Founder Lissa Foley and I had
been conspiring for months to run this event and create a space where people
could come and just zone out for the evening, learn tips and tools for how to
beat stress, and then relax in to a practice of how to evaporate stress and
feel your energy change.
Stress is such a huge
issue in our lives, being held responsible for 39% of work related absences
through related conditions such as chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. We
experience stress every day, and it is the mismanagement of this stress that
can lead to further issues.
I got a lovely surprise
when I arrived at Yogalilies last night before Power Hour, and the room was all
set up and looking delightful. I think I did a little jump of excitement as it
just looked so wonderful and I didn’t have to rush around getting anything
organised. Yogalilies is a studio in the heart of Newcastle City, which might
be easily passed by because of it’s unassuming entrance next to Tyneside Cinema
on Pilgrim Street, but once you enter through the door and receive the smell of
incense and the warmth of the atmosphere, you realise that you are somewhere
special.
I started the evening at
6:30pm with an introduction to what stress is and why and where we feel it.
Sitting on our yoga mats surrounded by candles and soft light, you could
already feel the stress leaving the room. We talked about how we can use stress
positively as motivation, and channel it as a driver to operate at our best.
Some of the tips that we can use daily to combat stress include taking some
time in the morning to dedicate to yourself – even if this is just ten minutes,
to do something for you and start your day on the right foot. We can tackle
small tasks straight away, and use the two minute rule to stop us from putting
things off and worrying about them unnecessarily. If a task takes two minutes
or less, then do it straight away.
Other tips include drinking
herbal teas such as peppermint and chamomile, drinking green juices to alklalise
the body, taking a magnesium supplement, writing things down to gain
perspective on them, talking, dancing, walking, laughing, and making time for
hugs that last 20 seconds or more to boost endorphins and bonding hormone oxytocin.
Lissa led the session
from here on in, and I was able to enjoy the Power Hour experience from a
different perspective, which was a real treat. Lissa began by getting all
twenty six of us moving, with some walking on the spot and some lying twists.
We focused on our breathing and drew attention to our inward and outward breath
as a means of relaxation, before candle gazing to prepare our minds for
meditation. Lissa spoke about meditation as being the most powerful tool she
has found for evaporating stress, and for the final part of the session we all
lay down and closed our eyes, as Lissa guided us through a visualization of
white sandy beaches, calm waters, and sunshine. It is safe to say that we were
all incredibly relaxed and de-stressed afterwards!
It was great to collaborate
with Lissa to create this Power Hour, and share my love for positive vibes,
creation, and helping people feel good. There were so many that missed out on
this event and so we will hope to run it again very soon so that many more
people can benefit.
Check out the workshops section of the Optimal You site for our next Power Hour event which takes the theme of "Truth", and sign up to The Optimal You newsletter to be kept up to date.
With Gratitude,
Niyc xx
