by guest blogger: Karen Hanlon
I began practicing yoga about six years ago, on a very “on and off” basis. At that time, I lived in Central Newfoundland, and was about two years into my career as a registered social worker. I have always been a relatively active person and tend to alternate between running, hiking, and fitness classes. It took me awhile to embrace yoga, but once I did, I was hooked.
Becoming hooked didn’t mean I suddenly attended yoga classes every day, became a yoga guru, or learned Sanskrit. In all honesty, I can barely touch my toes, let alone do a handstand or complicated arm balance. But none of that mattered. Yoga had wonderful benefits for my physical body, but what I valued most from the hour I spent in class was the sense of mental wellness I gained from the practice.
As a registered social worker, some of my work can feel pretty heavy. I love this profession, but I also recognize the importance of supporting my own well-being. Self-care is a bit of a buzzword in my field, and I fully understand why. Social workers tend to be employed in fields such as mental health and addictions, palliative care, child protection, foster care and adoptions, (dis)ability services, corrections, adult protection, crisis intervention, cancer care (and the list goes on and on…). Taking care of ourselves is essential to providing the type of support and service families and communities require in these very demanding areas of social work practice.
In October 2016, I relocated from Central Newfoundland to St. John’s, to pursue a new social work employment opportunity. I was looking for a new yoga studio, and Nova Yoga was recommended to me by a friend. I’m happy to say I’ve been attending ever since. I am about to enter my 9th year of social work practice, and I know that yoga will be a part of my personal self-care routine for many years to come. I have experienced many benefits from my yoga practice, including physical benefits, learning new tools to manage stress, increased mental clarity, and the sense of connection that comes along with being a part of a yoga community.
March is National Social Work Month, and Nova Yoga is acknowledging the contributions of our profession by offering free drop in classes to social workers between March 5 – 18, 2018 (with staff ID or proof of registration). Yoga is accessible to everyone and Nova Yoga offers a wide variety of classes, from beginner classes and workshops, to yin yoga, pre-natal classes, restorative yoga, kundalini yoga and more.
If you are a social worker seeking a new self-care routine, or are curious about how yoga may benefit you, I encourage you to celebrate social work month, drop in, and try a class or two! You can check out Nova Yoga’s schedule of class offerings here: https://www.novayogaonline.com/classes/class-schedule/
Karen Hanlon
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