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Fitness

How Yoga Can Help You Survive a Really Bad Day

It's when your day goes completely wrong that yoga can be most useful. I had a bad day at work, and it was my yoga practice that brought me back to happiness and peace.

Mahala Grant-Grierson

Written by Mahala Grant-Grierson Last updated on June 7, 2013

So, today was one of those days. I woke up feeling pretty good and with life moving full speed ahead. I dropped off my nephew at summer camp and still managed to get to work on time. I started to respond to emails and get back with clients making their summer travel plans (I’m a travel agent by day). I was whistling while I worked and thought this was going to be just another day. I was wrong.

My serenity was suddenly shattered when my manager handed me a scathing complaint from a client (commonly known as a bridezilla). The email evolved into a judgmental blaming game that wasn’t fun to endure. I was high on life until my happy bubble was so poignantly popped. It was in this moment that I wanted to freak out.

Thoughts started streaming into my mind and my reality was shaken up. I started to question my abilities and recall the incidents last week leading up to this earth-shattering email. How could I allow my peace train to be derailed into a dark ravine? I have suddenly lost the good feelings that were interrupted by such grand claims. It was only my intention to help these clients and somehow this all got lost in translation.

I wanted to throw myself onto the ground and throw a tantrum. Not literally, but the situation was nothing I wanted to deal with and a tantrum is in some ways tempting. I have found that I am less tolerable of petty situations after going through my own life-altering changes. I find myself just chalking it up as another misunderstanding or collision that is pointless to battle, so I just move on. There are so many more important things to focus on in life rather than something so miniscule.

I bolted out the door at lunch and called a dear friend who I knew could offer some perspective and possibly talk me out of saying something I might later regret. Her advice was “be still.” Those words sounded loudly in my psyche and I repeated this silently to myself – be still. My mind argued with the ability to be still in a time of chaos. That’s where the yoga practice comes into play, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. I find that sometimes it’s the little things that get me, not the big deals in life.

yoga for stress, bad day, yoga for a bad day, meditation, yogaIt wasn’t until later that I found my inner calm and I was especially grateful for my yoga class that night. I began teaching the beginner’s class and I suddenly felt a peace wash over me. This is what I love doing, teaching yoga. I could finally breathe and felt the calm amidst the storm. I didn’t exactly find any resolution after the incident, but I just wasn’t buying into the fear anymore. That’s where it all begins. For me, it’s either fear or faith. Sometimes I forget what to do and then I remember. Ah yes, all is okay. Be still.

How to find your inner calm:

  • Call a positive and wise friend. He or she is your 911 lifeline.
  • If you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything. Be still.
  • Breathe. Inhale, exhale, and repeat.
  • Ask yourself does this really matter?
  • Let go of the fear. Trust it will work out.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.

Mahala Grant-Grierson

About Mahala Grant-Grierson

Mahala was exposed to yoga in the early years through her mother. She began her own journey as a yoga instructor with the 200-hour teacher training at Three Sisters Yoga in New York City working with her teacher, Jen Whinnen, and mentor, Krissy Shields, from Sonic Yoga. In 2012, Mahala attended the Iowa City Yoga Festival and was introduced to yoga teacher and mentor, Sadie Nardini, who nicknamed Mahala as the “Pixie Queen.” Mahala is currently taking Sadie’s Online Rockstar Teacher Training and practices regularly with Mary Miller at Everybody’s Yoga.

Mahala began teaching yoga classes following her teacher training at Shambala, Budding Buddhas and The Rabbit Hole in Brooklyn, New York City. She worked as a “Karmi” at Om Factory New York City and Shambala Yoga Studio. Mahala also took advanced yoga classes with Dharma Mittra, Jivamukti, Bikram Yoga, Om Yoga, Aerial Yoga classes at Om Factory NYC, and Yoga for Cancer classes with Tari Prinster.

After all this NYC yoga adventure, Mahala moved to Quincy, Illinois to take a job and be near family. She quickly became known in the small community and made several appearances on the local television station, KHQA. In Quincy, Mahala began Yoga in the Park and Cancer Survivor Yoga, in addition to teaching at many different local facilities.

Mahala is a former cheerleader, with a wide dance background, and martial artist. Her yoga classes are light-hearted, spiritual, challenging, yet beginner-friendly. Mahala aspires to help heal others after her battle with breast cancer in 2011. She’s a strong believer in being a student for life and has future educational plans in the healing arts.

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