Yoga is a mind and body practice that involves movement, breathing exercises, and a focus on thoughts and feelings as they happen (mindfulness). Additionally, it’s great for overall health, including flexibility, stress relief, and physical fitness. “I’m nervous to try. What if I do it wrong?” There’s no right way to do yoga, only what is right for your body. We’ll take time to work through poses that will help you tune into your body and relieve stress.

Most people are hesitant to try meditation for fear of doing it wrong. There is no right or wrong with meditation. The goal of mindful meditation is to focus your attention on the things that are happening right now in the present moment. The idea is to note what you experience without trying to change it. “But what if I can’t focus?” That’s fine. Let me help you with acknowledging thoughts and returning to the moment.

Stressed? MBSR may be for you. MBSR teaches "mindfulness," which is a focus only on things happening in the present moment. Mindfulness is not a time to "zone out" or "space out" but is rather a time to purposefully pay attention and be aware of your surroundings, your emotions, your thoughts, and how your body feels.

Ok, you’re skeptical. You breathe every day. How is this any different? Do you take time to notice your breath? Is it shallow? Is it deep in your belly? There is more to breathing than just the breath. Using deep breathing exercises is one of the best ways to lower stress. When you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Let me teach you how.

Do you listen to comprehend or listen to respond? Do you ever wish you could communicate your needs more effectively? Nonviolent Communication is the integration of consciousness, language, and communication skills. NVC serves to increase our ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection, and to connect empathetically with self and others to have more satisfying relationships. NVC can help you set and maintain boundaries and get in touch with your emotions and needs.

Take a quick inventory of your body. Are you achy? Are your shoulders tight? Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and relaxing each muscle group to reduce anxiety and muscle tension. If you have trouble falling asleep, this method may also help with sleep problems.

Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize, label, and understand feelings in one’s self and others.

Emotional vocabulary is one component of emotional literacy, and it is exactly what it sounds like: associating words with our emotions. A larger and more complex emotional vocabulary allows a person to:

• accurately identify and differentiate between feelings;

• be attuned to the physical manifestations of feelings in the body that need to be expressed;

• regulate thoughts, behaviors, and actions;

• work through emotional needs;

• better communicate their needs in relationships;

• be more attuned to other people's needs and feelings.

It's never too late to start expanding your emotional vocabulary!