As we are in the middle of week three (or perhaps longer, or shorter for you) of this new normal of physical distancing, it is completely normal for feelings of exhaustion, sadness, grief and stress to settle in. It is important to acknowledge these feelings you have, as they are valid. There is no right or wrong way to be doing your quarantine, however, there may be things to help make it easier.
One thing that I’ve noticed is that my amount of screen time went up exponentially, which is beginning to strain my eyes, leading to an increase in headaches and difficulty sleeping.
This week, I thought I would share some “self-care” movement tips I am practicing (or attempting to practice, let’s be real). Movement, for me, is so important and can feel like a healing release. Everyone experiences movement differently and may have limitations that limit their abilities, and that is okay. This isn’t a time to put extra physical strain on ourselves.
While I am trying to limit my screen time, there are certain spaces I would recommend looking at.
Couch25K App
So, I’ve never actually completed this app, but with the weather warming up, now might be the time to consider running. I hear from runners that there is this thing called a “runners high,” which sounds like it could be nice. If you are running outdoors, please be mindful of physical distancing, run early in the morning or later in the evening, and veer for those who are not running.
Yoga
If you know me, you would know that yoga is something I do for my mind, body, and soul. The internet can be a great resource with plenty of yoga studios and youtube offering online options. I would recommend checking out my favourite studio that is based in Toronto. One silver lining is that I can share my favourite place in Toronto with the rest of the world.
Kula Annex is offering over 40 classes a week right now with either 10 dollar drop in rates, 40 dollars for a week unlimited, or donation-based class options with a minimum 3 dollar donation. It is important to continue to support these small businesses if you are financially able to, to help keep their doors open.
Instagram Dance Party with Mark Kanemura
My friend recently introduced me to this Instagram account, which is just pure joy. Every day at 5pm est/2pm pst, Mark goes live and hosts a vibrant, dance party. It is the perfect way to end your work-day (if you still work 9-5) and this offers 20 minutes of fun, non-judgmental dancing. If you can’t make it to the live, he typically saves them for 24 hours.
Pilates
Another studio I frequent is offering 40 dollars for unlimited online classes in April. Body Harmonics, another Toronto based studio offers safe, attuned classes that focus on alignment, anatomy and function. Each instructor that I’ve gone to has helped me feel safe, and my body feels better. Again, supporting small businesses during this time is so important.
What else should we be looking at doing during this time? Let us know by commenting below!
Are you ready to share your story of RESILIENCE? You can do that HERE.
Written by Alana Kaplan, Project Manager for the I Am Resilient Project.
