Yoga Healed My Stomach
I was living in Malaysia, running a young adults mentorship group, focused on spiritual transformation. The pent house we lived in was magical. Two floors of beautiful tiled floors, big windows, and a patio deck that could have been its own house. The deck overlooked the city, the mountains, and the ocean. I was in heaven!
I spent my days exploring Penang, meeting new friends, teaching English, and scarfing down delicious street food. I loved living in Malaysia.
A few years prior, I started experiencing what I would later learn to be called IBS (irritable bowel syndrome… I really wish it had a different name, but it is what it is). My nervous system was wildly out of wack and I had no idea. For over 5 years, my stomach was like it’s own bounce house, with misbehaving kids starting wars in there. I felt like a victim to everything I ingested. I would spend weeks at a time obsessing over food and how every bite made me feel.
It became numbing buzz in the back of my brain, something I encountered day in and day out. It became part of me in a way.
When I finally took the time to look into what was going on and not just remedy the symptoms, this is what I found…
My stress was creating my chronic discomfort. My brain wasn’t communicating with my body properly because it was on overdrive. And had been for years.
Honestly, I didn’t know this right away. Here’s what happened..
I asked my sister in law for yoga recommendations. I still remember where I was sitting when she sent them over. I clicked on the wrong one and stumbled upon Yoga with Adriene. Adriene would become my personal yoga teacher for the next 3 years. Her videos would become a source of life and hope each day as I got on my mat and learned my body.
I knew yoga would help my stomach, but I didn’t know why. I just thought I needed to stretch it out a little. Yes, 25 year old Kasidy truly believed a little stretch would go a long way.
What I didn’t realize at the time was the amount of stress and anxiety I was carrying. The practice of yoga wasn’t a magical mystery that just happened to heal my stomach. The practice of yoga calmed my nervous system even before I realized what was happening. I discovered I was anxious by experiencing the calm that arrived when I practiced.
When I connected with myself, mind, body, breath. When I loved my body, emotions, thoughts, breath. When I showed up for myself and listened. THAT is when the healing began.
And I had no idea that was the problem.
But I remember the day I started waking up without the stomach pain. I remember the day when food was no longer scary to eat. I remember feeling like I got my life back. And I no longer hear that numbing background noise of chronic pain.
They say chronic pain is a result of chronic stress. Stress is relieved by letting the body know it’s safe. Yoga calms the nervous system and helps your mind return to the present moment. In this present moment, there is no worry about the past or fear of the future. There is just now.
Some find this in biking, climbing, running, or creating. There is no “right” or “wrong” avenue, but if you’re experiencing chronic pain, look at the stress in your life. Consider how you can calm your nervous system and help your mind and body reconnect to the present moment.
All you have is now.
Seven ways to calm the nervous system today:
play - do something you enjoy
exercise
meditation
massage
prayer
spend time in nature
laugh
Click here to schedule a free 30 minute yoga session and receive your specific stress free living plan. I got you!
- Kasidy Kersey