During the past few months, many of us have experienced an incredible volume of emotions in such a relatively short amount of time. Not unlike the stages of grief, we’ve gone through a process of shock, anger, and depression, along with plenty of uncertainty and anxiety thrown in there for good measure.

But there comes a point in all situations where we have to decide if we’re going to dwell on the past (pre-COVID) or accept the situation that we’re in and move forward. In moments like this – when we have very little control or choice – radical acceptance can be a transformative skill to utilize.

Acceptance allows us to be autonomous, because when we accept that situations are out of our control, we allow ourselves to cope and we free ourselves from the pressures of trying to resolve situations we cannot change. Coming to terms with reality helps us move on from uncontrollable situations and take charge of our future actions. In doing so, our mood regulates, our bodies de-stress, and we feel uplifted.

Acceptance involves letting go of the desire to protest and force change. Meditation can help recognize feelings in the present, learn to appreciate the moment, view experiences more compassionately, and consciously allow things to be as they are.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, it's normal to feel fearful and anxious. With all the social distancing, interruption of plans, emergence of uncertainties, and wave after wave of unfavorable news, it's only human to feel sad, frustrated, lonely and lost.

To maintain your psychological health in the midst of these difficult times, Yoga is, hands down, one of the best self-care tools.

Spending time on your mat can benefit your brain, heart, and bones. Self-care practices can relieve mental stress, melt muscle tension, and help you feel confident that, yes, you can tackle your lengthy to-do list and handle whatever else may come.

Learn how taking care of yourself can create a ripple-effect of positivity in your mind and body. This is a nice and gentle Hatha/restorative yoga class, that gives you the time you need to take good care of yourself.

Are your nervous about socializing again after the lock-downs have been lifted?

Over the last year and a half, our global community has become increasingly used to being in a state of lock-down. As a result, many people are naturally feeling nervous about socializing again, particularly in big groups or with strangers. For some people, this fear might even manifest as social anxiety.

It has become socially acceptable again to sit in the pub, do a group exercise class, and hug loved ones. But the easing of coronavirus rules isn't exciting for everyone – for those with social anxiety, life after lock-down is a scary prospect.

Social Anxiety Disorder is a fear of social situations, under which one worries about meeting strangers, how to act with groups of friends, and generally feeling self-conscious.

For this reason, Dina has designed a mindfulness and visualization practice to achieve a state of relaxation and to help decrease social anxiety, overcome shyness, and foster a greater sense of self-confidence.

With the rollercoaster ride that this last year has been, lots of things have been going on in the world and individually, which means that a lot is going on in the inside as well.

Every organ corresponds to the energy of a certain emotion, and every disease stems from an imbalance in an organ or its meridians (energy channels). This is a fundamental idea in Chinese Medicine. Many times a physical disorder linked to a certain organ actually stems from an imbalance in the emotion associated with that organ. The reverse is often true as well: an imbalanced organ can heighten the specific emotion experienced by an individual. It can easily become a vicious cycle.

All emotions are inevitable, physiologically normal, and will not necessarily cause disease when they arise in daily life. Chinese medicine only considers emotions as pathological when they are repressed, contained, or expressed intensely, often, without control, or out of context.

Yin yoga is a wonderful practice to release trapped emotions and take the time to really feel into current emotions. Including Yin yoga in your regular yoga practice can have a profound effect on your emotional well-being.