By Jennifer Boileau

Have you ever struggled with anxiety, or has the thought of trying something like yoga give you anxiety? I was once there too.

When I first came to find myself in a yoga practice, something shifted quickly. Suddenly the anxiety I was feeling was melting away, my weight came to find a healthy balance and I was finding more calm in my day to day life. I stopped having chronic sinus infections, and my overall health seemed to improve. It was surprising because I didn’t expect it. Now I know that a yoga and meditation practice are meant to bring about just that – wholeness, balance, and good health.

Years ago, I went to the doctor asking about my racing thoughts, the fact that I could never fall asleep because my mind never became still, especially at night. He prescribed a low dose medication and said, “See if it helps”. After day 1, I felt like I had 20 cups of coffee-and stopped taking it. He said, “Let’s try a different one and see how it goes”….only that one made me feel worse. After a third drug that only made me unable to eat, I realized that medicating myself was not the answer. It took some time, but I finally decided to try yoga.

I resisted because I didn’t want to be embarrassed, not know what to do, and knowing how inflexible I was, worried I wouldn’t be able to do what was asked of me. What I found was that my fears were silly (no one was staring at me!) and my body actually craved the movement, holding the poses, the single pointed focus of what we call our “dristi” , and pairing my movements with my breath. Suddenly my mind was becoming steady-with no adverse side effects. The more I practiced on my mat, the quicker I could steady my mind off the mat. The racing thoughts disappeared, and slow, mindful breathing replaced them. Turns out your breath has a lot to do with the state of your mind. You learn to become the observer of your thoughts, and not consumed by them.

The benefits of yoga are astounding and there is a reason why I’m so passionate about sharing it with adults and kids alike! It can help concentration, increase a healthy response to stress, lower blood pressure, develop relaxation techniques, and when you’re in a dedicated practice you’re more likely to honor your body and nourish it with healthy choices!

I’m looking forward to sharing with you how yoga, meditation, sound healing and energy work can help you manage your stress, pain levels and overall well-being no matter what stage of life you’re in! What I have experienced with my clients of all age & ability levels is nothing short of amazing. If you think different approaches to wellness aren’t for you? Think again! Open your mind and allow yourself the space to explore how your body is really equipped to heal itself.

Jennifer Boileau

Jenn is a 200 E-RYT yoga and meditation teacher, reiki master, and crystal alchemy sound bath facilitator. She offers reiki sessions both in person and remotely. Jenn also performs reiki attunements for those seeking to become practitioners themselves, and accessible yoga classes for students of all ages and physical abilities. In these sessions, she uses the healing power of sound through pure quartz crystal singing bowls to take students on a journey of self-discovery, self-healing, and self-love. You can find Jenn on her website jenniferboileau.com, on social media @flowwithjenn, or teaching classes locally.