No one walked into 2020 knowing they could potentially spend months socially distancing themselves from their loved ones and others, but here we are.
From panic-shopping, to constantly refreshing the news to get an updated damage report, the quarantine has emotionally affected us- in a bad way. So outside of enjoying dark humor that only tends to highlight the crisis, what can we do as individuals to bring ourselves to a healthier mental space while we wait out this pandemic?
Even though most of our homes do not have accessible gym equipment, it does not mean that we have to give up on working out entirely.
Now that most of us are staying home, we can’t help but hear our neighbors, probably for the first time! Acknowledging life form is always fun and exciting, until it comes to the next-door neighbors getting a bit too noisy. Similarly, amid the quarantine we wouldn’t want to be inconsiderate of the people surrounding us either. Therefore, Yoga is one of the best ways you can hit multiple birds with one stone.
As we all anxiously wait at home for the quarantine to end, we can learn to practice yoga. All you need is a yoga mat, if that, and you should be able to practice it from the comfort of your room. Unlike most workouts, yoga, if done correctly, can make for a silent, relaxing, and mind-clearing exercise.
Over the past couple of weeks, as the crisis mode grew all around the world, we haven’t been able to help our gravitation towards the news. No one wants to be left in the dark. That’s understandable. But also, we have to remember we are living in the present and not the potential future. Yes, we need to follow what CDC recommends, however, this doesn’t mean we should let it consume our mind and body. Practicing yoga at such a moment in history can help us connect our mind and body through breathing. Taking it a second and a pose at a time, yoga can definitely be the perfect spiritual and emotional bridge that we yearn for in the solitude of our homes during the quarantine.
As most of us will spend a lot of time indoors, we don’t necessarily have to leave nature behind. From the comfort of our room, we can crack the window and enjoy the view and listen to the sound of the birds. This way we can reconnect with nature, and not feel completely disconnected from the world.
It is unbelievable that only weeks ago, most of us were content with just staying in, and spending time on our electronic devices. But now that the options of going out to the nature and socializing have been limited, we can’t help but find ourselves yearning to see our loved ones and to spend time outdoors- without the anxiety of contracting a disease.
Following CDC is important, but it is just as important to treat the quarantine days with peace and mindfulness. Afterall, We are not the only ones to have gone through a pandemic, and we will not be the last.
