Utilizing the perspectives of yoga and Ayurveda, various tools can be used to address burnout and compassion fatigue. These tools can address not only the symptoms, but also some of the underlying causes. The tools are not one-size-fits-all but rather can be modified or used in various combinations depending on how burnout and compassion fatigue are manifesting in the individual.
American culture, with puritanical roots focused on austere values of hard work, as well as America’s focus on individualism and capitalism, often values burnout and does little to prevent it or treat it. “Pushing through”, long hours, doing it all yourself, are all valued in the American work ethic.
"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."
-Audre Lorde, self described "black lesbian feminist mother warrior poet"
Self-care is a very trendy buzzword these days. It evokes images of manicures, bubble baths with a glass of wine, a massage, and shopping sprees.
I've heard from many of you that you're feeling overwhelmed, lonely, down, or running on empty. We are dealing with all of our normal stressors plus the stress, illness, grief, and uncertainty of a global pandemic. Yoga can provide both a perspective on our mental health and the tools to work with our emotions. The 3 gunas (or qualities of nature) in yoga offer a yogic approach to understanding our emotional state.
Nadi Shodhana or alternate nostril breathing, is a pranayam or breathing technique used to balance energy in the body. Prana, energy, flows through different energy channels called nadis. The main nadi on the left side of the body is called the Ida and the one on the right is the Pingala. The energy on the left flows downward, is governed by the moon and can calm and ground us. On the right, the energy moves upward and is activating, governed by the sun.
