Tag: Mental Health

Daring to be Vulnerable

YogiNest is about to get REAL! If you couldn’t tell already YogiNest has gone through some major changes in 2020. There’s a good reason for that. That reason is me & my responsibility to share my story. I’ve learned so much since I started YogiNest. One of those things is that people are hiding their traumas. People are hiding everything related to mental health. We did that, as a culture, we made it unsafe to talk about, and I just won’t have it anymore! It took me a long time to stop hiding my traumas. It was terrifying, and even when I did start sharing my traumas I only shared them with my therapist. It was a good start but I was still so scared and ashamed of my story that I never fully opened up to anyone in my life. I was scared they would think of me differently, or think I was weird, or that something was wrong with me. When I started sharing my story with my therapist it was the most painful experience of my life, but then something magical happened…I felt free for the first time in my life! LIBERATED! It took a long time to start opening up to others, but I did, baby steps. Now, with my practice, people are opening up to me, and I’m holding space for them. I even share my story when I feel it might help, and let me tell you something, it opens doors I didn’t even know existed. We’re meant to share stories, even the bad ones, it’s part of being human. The human connection includes not only the good but also the bad, the dark corners and crevices of our life, and we all have them. So I’m going to get even more vulnerable, because of what I’m seeing in my sessions, I’m going to start sharing my story here. It’s going to be hard, scary, sometimes painful, and sometimes liberating, but I know for sure that it will help…even if it’s just one person. So buckle up because things are going to get weird. From this point forward YogiNest is all about vulnerability, sharing my story, and how you can heal from trauma through Yoga + Mindfulness techniques. Stay tuned, or walk away now, hahaha, cause it’s gonna get real!

Book a session today! You may fill out our contact form, call us at 323-849-0039 or shoot us an email jenna@yoginest.com

Benefits of Breathing Techniques

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be sharing my top 3 breathing techniques. I teach all 3 of these to my new clients. They are easy, accessible & actionable. I think they’re great for beginners & advanced students alike. You don’t have to have any special skills to do these techniques, you just need to know how to breath & I think you’ve probably got that one figured out since you’re reading this. You can do them anywhere & anytime, just like how you’re breathing wherever you are right now. That’s how simple this is. I love doing these breathing techniques lying down but I find they’re very helpful in a pinch; during stressful situations, heavy traffic, when I can’t sleep & when I’m feeling anxious. Breathwork is MAGIC! Keep an eye out for these techniques, they’ll be posted one-by-one over the next few weeks. I’ve added some benefits below.  

→ Improve mental & physical well-being

→ Promotes deep relaxation 

→ Improves emotional state

→ Reduce stress & anxiety levels

→ Can boost immunity

→ Can help you process emotions & heal emotional pain, grief & trauma

→ Can reduce the symptoms of chronic pain, depression & PTSD

→ Help you work through anger issues

→ Can reduce the symptoms of the emotional effects of illness

→ Improves energy levels

Book a session today! You may fill out our contact form, call us at 323-849-0039 or shoot us an email jenna@yoginest.com

The YogiNest Method™

Introducing… The YogiNest Method™⁠

⁠I’m VERY excited about this. I’ve learned a lot over the last 5 years of teaching & one of those things is:⁠

⁠Physical Movement + Mindfulness Coaching = TRANSFORMATION!

⁠Physical Movement on it’s own is wonderful. It makes your physical body feel great, builds strength & flexibility & you’ll feel less pain, headaches & stress. Mindfulness on it’s own is also wonderful. It teaches you how to live in the present moment, guides you towards a closer bond & stronger relationship with yourself, teaches you to forgive & move through old pain & changes your relationship with others & the world around you. ⁠

⁠Physical movement & mindfulness coaching together is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The transformations I’ve witnessed from students practicing both yoga & mindfulness coaching are astounding. So I created The YogiNest Method™.

The YogiNest Method™ is: 1 part physical movement + 1 part mindfulness⁠ coaching 

⁠Students practicing this method with YogiNest will come no less than 1 time per week to practice yoga & no less than 1 time per week for mindfulness coaching. They go hand and hand. Yoga sessions start in silence, lying in Savasana, adding either a breathing exercise, mini-meditation, or body scan before moving the body. All movement is paired with breath. It’s gentle, nonjudgmental, freeing, strength building, relaxing & restorative. The overall goal is to move all tension, physical & mental, out of the body. Stress, energy, toxins & emotional/physical trauma can get stuck in the body, so it’s imperative that we move. This practice translates directly off the mat and into your daily routine. You’ll notice less physical pain, irritation, anxiety, depression, stress, headaches & digestive issues. You’ll sleep better and you’ll have more energy. You’ll feel happier, more productive, creative & motivated. In mindfulness coaching we’ll slowly work through your current stressors, goals, untreated trauma, any current struggles that are holding you back & more. You’ll be given exercises to help you work through your stressors, traumas & goals. Some of these exercises are; meditation, breathing techniques, very specific journaling assignments, coaching sessions with me & a plethora of mindfulness-based methods to help you become the best version of yourself. ⁠

⁠THIS WORKS! I’ve seen it! I’ve experienced it in my own life. It’s powerful.⁠

⁠If you’d like to learn more you can read my blog posts titled:⁠ “Why Is Mindfulness So Important” & “Why Is Movement So Important.” We’re so excited to provide this new service to all of you.

Best,
Jenna

Book a session today! You may fill out our contact form, call us at 323-849-0039 or shoot us an email jenna@yoginest.com

YogiNest's Mission

YogiNest’s voice is changing! As I grow and change, YogiNest too will grow and change, and that’s exactly what’s happening.

I’ve been working with clients for almost 5 years now & I’ve noticed that the stigma surrounding mental health is VERY REAL & VERY SERIOUS! 

I’ve actually been part of the problem, as my fear and vulnerability has kept me from talking about my own mental health. I’ve talked about why YogiNest exists, or at least why it was created in 2015, but that why is changing. Yes my struggle with Lupus still fuels my desire to help those who might also be struggling with an illness, but the thing that’s calling, screaming rather, for my attention over and over is a lot of unchecked trauma and hidden mental health concerns. Over 90% of my clients are practicing mindfulness with me and most of them have 1 thing in common, they’ve been struggle with unresolved traumatic issues a majority of their life and little has eased their affliction…but guess what…MINDFULNESS IS WORKING!!!

And so this is my mission:

-> To share my story! To be more vulnerable and raw! All of us have a story, all of us struggle from time to time. This is normal and my goal is to normalize the crap out of mental health concerns because enough is enough! You are not broken! And you are not alone!!! 

-> I’ll still be teaching yoga full time BUT mindfulness will be my main focus. My goal is to teach you as many actionable tools as I can. I want mindfulness to be accessible to all. It works!!! I’ve seen it over and over again. 

-> To teach “The YogiNest Method,” 1 part movement, 1 part mindfulness. You need to move your body, it’s important for your mental health. You can physically work out whatever issues are keeping you from your full potential + it feels damn good. You also need to check in with your mental self, this is imperative! Where are you today? Ask yourself without judgment and then use mindfulness tools to work through those feelings. Nothing is more freeing!

-> To be honest, to be organic, to build a strong community that feels safe talking about mental health <—- this is the big one! 

I want to build a community that feels safe, a space that allows you to openly talk about mental health. We’ve all been touched by it, whether from our own internal struggles or watching someone we love struggle. Let this be your safe space to talk about whatever feels necessary to you.

This is a judgment free zone & you are not alone xoxo

Book a session today! You may fill out our contact form, call us at 323-849-0039 or shoot us an email jenna@yoginest.com

Why Is Mindfulness So Important?

First of all, what is mindfulness? ⁠

⁠Bob Stahl, PH.D. & Elisha Goldstein, PH.D. define it as, “Mindfulness is about being fully aware of whatever is happening in the present moment, without filters or the lens of judgement. Put simply, mindfulness consists of cultivating awareness of the mind and body and living in the here and now.”⁠

⁠So why is it so important? I believe what happens in the mind shows up in the body. When I’m anxious my heart races, my breath is short & fast, I get queasy, I can’t concentrate & my body feels tight. When I’m sad I feel weak, fatigued & heavy. These are just symptoms I can see on the surface. What’s happening deeper inside? I believe these mental fluctuations & symptoms cause sickness as well as physical pain. I know this because when I’m suffering from anxiety or depression I get sick more. When I’m happy I feel motivated, social, healthy, mostly pain free, less headaches, I sleep better, etc.⁠

⁠Mindfulness does SO many positive things for our mental & physical wellbeing. It helps you build a better relationship with yourself & closes the gap between mind & body. You become more aware of what is going on internally & externally. You learn how to process this information quicker & more precisely. You learn how to filter this information out of your physical & mental body vs. obsessing over it, pushing it down, or allowing it to fester & develop into mental & physical trauma. When a problem arises, mindfulness allows you to acknowledge it without judgement, teaches you how to process it in real-time & provides tools like; meditation, breathing techniques & more to nip it in the bud before it grows. This practice will change your life; you’ll get sick less, sleep better, feel less pain, relationships will improve, you’ll feel happier, motivated, productive & more!  ⁠

⁠The most important relationship you’ll ever have is with yourself & the most important key to a healthy life is the state of your mind! Mental health needs WAY more attention & we need to break the stigma! Prioritize your mental health by adding some mindfulness techniques to your daily routine & watch everything gradually fall into place.⁠

Book a session today! You may fill out our contact form, call us at 323-849-0039 or shoot us an email jenna@yoginest.com

Why Is Movement So Important?

Humans are meant to move! It’s important for our mental & physical health. 

Our ancestors moved a lot, but today we live mostly sedentary lives. We sit in cars & at desks, we sit on the couch & is scroll through our phones or binge one of the MANY streaming services we have at our fingertips…lots of sitting…and it’s horrible for our physical & mental health. According to the World Health Organization in 2017, physical inactivity was the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality.

Let’s take a look at some of the side effects of living a sedentary lifestyle:

Anxiety, cardiovascular disease, migraines, digestive issues, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, lipid disorders, obesity, osteoporosis, scoliosis, spinal disc herniation (low back pain). Physical inactivity may even increase the risks of certain cancers & can cause a decrease in skeletal muscle mass. This is only a small list!

Personally, I know when I’m more sedentary I feel; fatigued, irritable, stressed, depressed, anxious, aches & pains throughout my body, tension, stiffness, headaches, more emotional, less motivated & productive, insomnia, less creative, etc. 

Stress, energy, toxins & emotional/physical trauma gets stuck in the body! So get unstuck & move your body!!! Of course I’d love it if ya’ll pulled out yoga mats right now & did a solid 60 min. session BUT yoga isn’t for everyone. What works is choosing a physical activity that is pleasing to you. Walk, bike, DO YOGA (wink, wink), pilates, swim, hike, CrossFit, weight train, etc. Find something you love & incorporate it into your schedule TODAY! You can even exercise at your desk, or invest in a standing desk & see how this positively affects your physical & mental health, concentration, productivity, creativity, etc.    

According to the Center for Disease Control you should do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise, or 75 minutes of a more vigorous regimen weekly. Walking 10,000 steps a day (approx. 5 miles) is another great goal for improving health & reducing risks caused by inactivity. Pair this with mindfulness practices & breathing techniques & you’ll be in good shape, both physically & mentally. 

Book a session today! You may fill out our contact form, call us at 323-849-0039 or shoot us an email jenna@yoginest.com