FYB Feel Your Best - Yoga Teacher Training, Pilates Teacher Training and Stress Management Teacher Training

Mind, Body & Spirit:

Question and Answers

About Yoga, Pilates & Stress Management

By Debra Mundt, RYT500, CPT
FYB (Feel Your Best)^®

Yoga, Pilates & Stress Management

Teacher Certification Training School

Mid-Life Crisis / The Power of Our Thoughts

Q: I am a 48-year-old man, and going through what you might call a “mid-life crisis” (though the word crisis sounds so daunting!). I have been looking for a new sense of peace, and searching in various places to find it. Someone suggested that I try Yoga, but I have no idea where to start, what to do, or even if this is the right path for me to find what I’m looking for. Can you help? --R.M.

A: First of all, I want to applaud you for seeking out help, rather than turning your feelings inward, as so many in your situation have done. That being said, I feel that there is no better way to find inner peace, and to begin to understand your “true self”, than through the practice of Yoga. It sounds like the person who recommended that you try Yoga realizes that Yoga is more of an inner journey than an outward practice…which is indeed the case. I find it sad that in today’s society, some styles of Yoga seem to ignore the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of self, and focus simply on achieving a “Yoga body”. My husband refers to these styles as “Yoga-aerobics”, which I believe is a pretty accurate reflection of what they have become!

My suggestion is that you begin with a slower-paced, more meditative, gentle style of Yoga (initially steering clear of any reference to Power or Flow, which typically are focused on the physical aspects of Yoga). See how that makes you feel, and what you start to notice on a more subtle level (does it help you feel grounded, reflective, joyful?). You may then want to experiment with several different styles of Yoga, and several different teachers, to determine where you feel the most at home, the most peaceful. Try to avoid the expectation that one class will help you find your way out of your “mid-life crisis”…keeping in mind that it probably took you several years to get to this point, and it may well take some time to start feeling better again. Additionally, if you are finding that what you are experiencing right now is regularly disrupting your daily life, and you are not already seeking the help of a qualified professional counselor, I encourage you to do so, if only to support the other “work” you’ll be doing to find your new sense of peace. Best of luck on your new inner journey!

Did You Know?

Did you know that we truly are what we think? According to Paramhansa Yogananda, the guru who taught the founder of Ananda Yoga, “Thoughts are things. Words, which are crystallized thoughts, have immeasurable power, especially when we speak them with concentration. The mere thought of fatigue is enough to sap our energy. To strengthen that thought by the words, "I'm exhausted," gives definition, and therefore added power, to the thought itself.” I recently taught a workshop called “Yoga from the Inside Out”, which had a focus of increasing ones’ self-esteem. In the workshop, we discussed the power of our thoughts, and how, with a little practice, we can turn that negative, unhealthy self-talk into positive, healing self-talk. Affirmations, when repeated with full awareness and concentration, have the power to change us in ways that delve beyond the conscious mind, to deeper levels of consciousness. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, try this: take Downward-Facing Dog pose, and silently repeat to yourself, “Calmness radiates from every fiber of my being” (this is Ananda Yoga’s paired affirmation for this pose). See if it doesn’t help you to feel instantly calmer and more relaxed!

Do you (or does someone close to you) have a medical condition, or have an injury that you think Yoga, Pilates or Stress Management might be helpful in treating? Perhaps, you have general or specific Yoga, Pilates or Stress Management related questions. I’d love to hear from you! Please send your question to Info@FeelYourBest.com. I regret that I will not be able to personally answer each question submitted, due to time and space constraints.

Debra Mundt, RYT500, CPT, is the founder of FYB (Feel Your Best)^® Yoga, Pilates & Horizons (Stress Management). She is also Director of the FYB Teacher Certification Training School. Debra and the School Faculty members may be reached at 262-241-8796, or by e-mailing Info@FeelYourBest.com.