The world feels challenging lately. Maybe you feel it too.

The news I hear about what’s happening here in the US, as well as around the world, can definitely impact my mental health. It’s easy for me to dissociate sometimes, or turn a blind eye, just so I can continue my daily tasks and stay functioning in this society. I still need to show up to work to pay my bills and for me, to show up to work means I show up to teach yoga, show up for my students, show up and hold space in my group classes for my students, private sessions for my clients, corporate yoga offerings for workspaces, and my mentorship group for yoga teachers.

Being able to show up for others and complete daily, mundane tasks is necessary stay functioning in this society. But dissociating or pretending these problems don’t exist isn’t the answer either.

I try to find a middle path: to stay awake, to stay present, to stay aware, without letting it affect my mental, physical, social, or spiritual health so deeply that I can’t function in my daily life. I want to live in this world where I stay awake to what is happening but also without losing the joy to live this previous life and not forgetting to see the beauty that also exists in this world.

Here are some of the things that have been helping me stay grounded and present during these times:

Daily Practice

Yoga, meditation, chanting, prayers, a walk in nature, whatever works for you. For me, I’ve been committing to a daily 15-minute meditation practice, and I truly believe it makes a huge difference.

Being With My Teachers

At the beginning of January, I completed 10 days of intensive training in Oakland with my teacher, Annie Carpenter. I usually hold the responsibility to hold space for others. So in Oakland, being a student in a space where I could take off the hat of being a yoga teacher, where I wasn’t the space-holder, but instead was being held, was such an incredible gift.

Here in Long Beach, I attend a weekly yoga philosophy class where I also get to be held in community by my teacher. I also recently started seeing a meditation teacher every other week for private sessions, and I even joined a mentorship program for yoga teachers where I can be supported by other teachers and leaders.

All of these opportunities allow me to be a student. They allow me to receive instead of always holding responsibility for others. This has been deeply nourishing. The teachings of yoga, philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, and meditation techniques continue to ground me in my practice and learning.

Being With Community

Spending quality time with friends and family is essential. I’m also committed to showing up for my online yoga studio students, my mentorship group, and my in-person classes. All of this reminds me that I am part of a community, and that we hold each other up. We are not meant to do this alone.

Acting and Contributing in Ways I Can

This looks different for everyone. Some people call their representatives. Some show up to protests. Some vote with their dollars, help their neighbors, or donate to organizations doing important work. And some might be having difficult conversations with their family members, or some choose to nourish themselves to regulate their nervous system. They are all valid and okay.

For my online yoga studio, I donate 5% of our monthly profit to nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work.

On the last Sunday of every month, I also host a free, donation-based community Zoom yoga class called Yoga 4 Change. All donations from that class go directly to a chosen cause. Check out my online yoga studio's schedule to see if you would want to join the next Yoga 4 Change.

Staying grounded doesn’t mean having it all figured out. It simply means choosing, again and again, to stay present, connected, and compassionate, with ourselves and with one another.