Slow the hamster wheel.

I recently was having a conversation with my acupuncturist and we were commiserating over our anxiety spirals. We agreed that our anxiety is always about the what-ifs rather than the actual present moment. He gave me two wonderful ideas to slow the hamster wheel:


1) Instead of listening to the context of the anxiety (the “facts” or even feelings), give your mind permission to turn off problem-solving mode and see the spiral as a ball of energy. And that ball of energy can be used in other ways rather than in the mind - move your body (dance, Pilates, walk, run, etc), sing, yell, even shake it out. Not every thought has to be solved.
2) The hamster wheel can be addictive (say what?!). Especially if you are someone who wants to be in control, you want to think through every scenario, every “what if” to feel prepared. But in the end, you won’t know what to do or how you will feel until you are in the moment. You also won’t always know the why. Even more reason to observe the wheel from a third-person perspective instead of a first-person and move that energy elsewhere.


Pilates is always a great mind-body connector to make you focus on your breath and ease the speed of your spirals. I hope that these ideas can help slow the hamster wheel in your own mind this month.

Sign Up for Pilates On Demand

---

This month, 20% of our proceeds will be contributed to Madre.


Founded in 1983, Madre is an international human rights organization that transcends geographies and generations to deliver sustainable gender, racial, climate and disability justice. They foster a world rooted in their feminist values, where women and girls, and other marginalized groups, fully participate in shaping policies and decision making, their expertise and leadership is recognized and upheld, and they equitably hold power and resources within their communities.


They build solidarity-based partnerships with grassroots movements in more than 40 countries, working side by side with local leaders on policy solutions, grantmaking, capacity bridging, and legal advocacy to achieve the shared vision for justice.


Some of their current campaigns include Building a Just Peace, Advancing Climate Justice and Ending Gender Violence. They have continuously fought against war and exploitation.


To learn more about their incredible work, please visit: https://www.madre.org/

---

Sign Up for Pilates On Demand