Hormones; our silent super-powers that sustain our practice
One of my girls captured this photo during my morning movement practice on top of the huge rock in our backyard. I appreciate this photo because it’s been a long diligent climb to recover my energetic self over the last year and a bit. I shared this summer at our Mindfulness for Trauma Recovery Conference that the trauma of the massacre affected every system in my body, from my nervous system (the system most commonly referenced in trauma conversations), to my digestion to my endocrine function. I am finally at a point where I don’t wake up in the night with pains in my abdomen, or gasping for air due to hormone deficiencies.
We’ve all been through so much in this lifetime, but the last few years especially have been rough on everyone. Women, if you’re lacking energy and using alcohol, sugar or coffee to get through your day, know that you’re not alone. But also know that it’s not helping you thrive. These habits are known as post-traumatic coping, they ease the pain in the short term but devastate our health in the long term. If you’re having a hard time mustering the energy for your self-care practice, I encourage you to pay your doctor a visit and ask that your hormones be tested, from thyroid (the engine of your whole system) to estrogen (our main sex hormone) to cortisol (that stress hormone that wreaks havoc on the balance we all strive for).
Not only did I need a tweak in my thyroid meds, I started…wait for it…HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY! It’s changed my life, I honestly feel 25 again. I just wish I’d started it years ago when I went into early menopause (which was also induced by trauma), but there was so much caution around it that I didn’t even consider it. There are so many benefits to hormone therapies, but many of us are still influenced by the old assumptions about them.
No matter how much yin or yoga nidra I did, I couldn’t balance my energy on my own…because I had a medical condition that needed proper support, which I’m singing a big ol’ hallelujah for! Sometimes, when the climb seems insurmountable, we may just need a little pharmaceutical help (never thought I’d say that but I am, it’s all about the middle path). Regardless of my lack of energy though, I still got on my mat and did what I could, because practice is about dedication, repetition and detachment.
I also appreciate that this posture encourages an opening of the chest muscles AND a lengthening of the iliopsoas muscle in the front of the hip, both areas that are affected by emotional pain and trauma. This posture is possible for me today because of a gentle yet persistent stretching practice, and a deep inner listening to the needs of the body. This is such a great reminder as we jump into our busy fall schedules, let’s stay connected to ourselves and go get your hormones checked!
PS, if you haven’t experienced our unique and lifechanging AWAKENINGS 200Hr Yoga Teacher Training Program, there is no better time to journey into the ancient teachings on how to stay well through the chaos that is life today. Start date: Sept. 18th, 2021. https://www.breathingspaceyogastudio.ca/application-form-200hr or email info@BreathingSpaceYogaStudio.ca