Moving and Breathing Through Anxiety

Anxiety Busting Challenge ~ Day 16

Here we are at day 16 of the Anxiety Busting Challenge.

Today I’m so happy to share with you, Emmanuelle Lambert.

Emmanuelle’s story is one I know so many of us can relate to and I just Love her Golden Nugget and Challenge. So read on to learn how to create your day! Enjoy!

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Moving and Breathing Through Anxiety by Emmanuelle Lambert

Anxiety Story

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night because you think you might have forgotten to do something at work ? Do you ever wake up then, thinking this is sooo not how you envisioned your life ? Do you ever wake up thinking you cannot go on like this but not knowing what to do ? Do you ever end up crying on your doorstep when it is time to go to this dreaded office ?

Trust me, I know how it feels. Because that was me, a mere five years ago. Me, remembering that the last thing I wanted to be when I graduated university was an assistant. And there I was, being an assistant to a terrible boss, squeezing me like a lemon (disclaimer : assistant is a beautiful job, and yes, assistants are needed. It just wasn’t for me).

I knew there was something else for me, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I had almost come to believe that maybe, only maybe, I should settle for what I had because, let’s face it, c’est la vie, right ?

Except I couldn’t bring myself to settle for second best.

First I changed companies, thinking things might get better in a new environment. They didn’t.

Then, I found yoga. Or yoga found me.

Golden Nugget

I know what you think : yes, of course, relieving stress and anxiety is a well known effect of yoga. Well, it didn’t quite work that way, there is more to yoga than meets the eye.

Yoga has helped me find my own power. Yoga has helped me connect to my true self. Yoga has helped me own my deepest desires. Yoga has helped me believe that I didn’t have to settle for second best. Yoga has helped me distinguish when my monkey mind takes over and how, with a mix of movement, breathing and meditation, you can tame it. Yoga has helped me shine my light, and shine it bright.

Challenge

I have a little challenge for you, in the form of a short morning ritual to create your day and upgrade your mindset, so you can bust through anxiety ! First, find yourself a nice comfortable and quiet space to go through this little ritual as smoothly as possible, this is your morning « me time » !

1. Start every day by taking three long deep breaths down to your belly. Inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth, sticking your tongue out, cleansing out from the inside.
2. Move your body for a few minutes. You can do a couple of sun salutations, or stretch your body completely, whatever movement feels yummy to slowly wake your body up and get the energy flowing.
3. Meditate. Sit still, focus on the breath, and be an observer of your thoughts. Your thoughts will not go away, and if you try to block them out, they will come back with a vengence. Acknowledge them, and let them pass. You don’t have to meditate for one hour straight, even five minutes of stillness can work wonders.
4. Set an intention for your day. Your sankalpa, or intention, will be your compass throughout your day. The most important when you set it is using the affirmative form and present tense. For instance, instead of « I want to create abundance and love for myself », say « I create abundance and love for myself ». Words are powerful tools, use them wisely.

Create your day, create your life, and don’t let the anxiety bug bite !

Emmanuelle Lambert is passionate about helping women find their dream job and transition smoothly to their ideal lifestyle so they can create the life they want to live while taking care of themselves. A life coach, yoga teacher and author, she encourages her wonderful clients and students to unleash and tap into their inner power to achieve their dreams, and is a firm advocate of self care (and dark chocolate).

Emmanuelle can be found on http://www.plansonacomet.com – for now!

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