Be mindful
Words by Liam Stretch with some advice thrown in by Kotte Aguilar.
Image taken by Alex Hallifax.
Though the strictest conditions may be easing, Aotearoa and the world is going to be a very different place for some time, and there's no pussyfooting around it, this may make us feel a bit, well, bleugh. That's why it's so important to not only look after your body but also your mind. We're lucky enough to have some pretty cool people in the Yo, Vocal community who can help us along the way. One of these is local yogi, and all-round cool chick, Kotte Aguilar. Before we get to the nitty-gritty, here is a little bit about Kotte.
Kotte has been in Christchurch for 11 years; she emigrated from South America when she was 18 – desiring a fresh start but never planning to stay – now, a decade later, Kotte says it was the best decision she has ever made."In my youth, I experienced a lot of hardship, depression, anxiety, trauma, and the list goes on and on.
"After I moved here, a friend of mine recommended yoga as I was very lost and dealing with my mental health. I wasn't keen on her idea; however, I did have a go, and from that day my whole world and life changed; I am now a teacher of yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and a mentor to small businesses, young people, and anyone feeling a little stuck," says Kotte. Her first yoga class changed her in every way – she wasn't all too comfortable with who she was, but that first class set her on a journey to find out who she really was and Kotte thinks she would have got to this level of self-improvement any other way.
"These practices have taught me how to get to know myself, discover myself, explore and heal myself within one breath, one pose, one moment." This part of Kotte has not stopped in our current environment, they have, in fact, helped her cope with the crisis and she has agreed to share with us some of the techniques she uses to exercise mindfulness.
When quizzed with what she thought the most challenging aspect of the lockdown might be for people, she believed that it was subjective to each person, but there were some commonalities across the board. We all have different mechanisms to deal with it, but the most common factor was the disruption of routine. This can be quite hard for people to comprehend and accept. "I believe that it can be hard to overcome lockdown because of our grief. The grieving of our plans and the life we had," Kotte says. This is a completely normal way to feel Kotte believes.
"We tend to minimise how we feel. If I feel sad for not being able to play netball with a friend, it almost feels like I cannot feel sadness or pain from something so "small. The brain doesn't understand that concept, though. The brain grieves, period; so, all of our suffering is completely valid, important, and part of who we are." To her, it doesn't matter if we experience these feelings, but Kotte has suggestions for how we can deal with them and use them. I, therefore, posed the question to Kotte of what mindfulness means and how we can put it into practice.
"Mindfulness, to me, is my sanity; it is my anchor. It is what keeps me sane in all ways – even more than meditation as it is more flexible, more diverse, even more dynamic. Mindfulness, for me, is what keeps me here and not in my fairyland world inside my head."
We can practice mindfulness in various ways according to Kotte.
"I will make it extremely easy for us to get the concept and the simplicity of it because for me it's all about making things easy and simple so we can begin. Think of an activity that you really enjoy doing, such as reading a book, making a meal, gardening, playing an instrument, yoga, sewing, drawing etc.
Now, remember how you feel when you are doing that task; it's like time stops and becomes irrelevant – you are completely present with your task at hand. If it's reading a book, then you can be so engaged and connected with it, that you almost feel like you are inside the book, navigating the narrative, your surroundings are irrelevant for that moment in time.
That, in simple words, is mindfulness, so the best way to practice mindfulness is to: let go of expectations, and find an activity that you already enjoy doing, allocate some time, and be present with your task. It is the best way because you are already connected to it. If I were to ask you to sit crossed legged and close your eyes, that might be away from your comfort zone, so I think keeping things simple during this time is key."
These steps may help as the ongoing crisis continues, but they are also useful steps to apply to everyday life. When moving forward, Kotte recommends we slow down and appreciate the world around us a wee bit more and to show gratitude for what we actually have – as this, she believes, puts things in perspective.
"For me, it's super important to remember the basics, like: I have a roof, I am warm, I have food, I have my body, I am healthy, and I have access to water. When you reflect on all of that, you realise that things aren't as bad as they seem." She also suggests staying in the now; staying present. Things can change a lot in very small space of time, as we have seen with COVID-19 and the Christchurch earthquakes – think about the future but don't fixate on it. We don't have control of what is to come, but we have control over our lives right now.
"I think it is an invitation for us to reflect on how we want to live, what matters to us, what has meaning to us, and how we want to live...,".
So, with that being said, how can we connect to our place a little more; how can we connect with Earth? Kotte says that we must be aware, first and foremost, that we are a part of it; this is something that she has taken more time to appreciate within the lockdown period and implores that we continue with it even after this chaos has subsided. In her view, we must go outside and experience the world – notice the small things like the birds, clouds, and the ground beneath our feet.
"Look, don't see; and see with humility because it is our home; it is what keeps us going. The light of the sun, the soil allowing us to grow, and the animal kingdom helping the ecosystem. Don't feel like an outsider, externally noticing the Earth, but rather, notice how you are part of it, by simply existing."
So, from Kotte, and us here at Yo, Vocal, look after yourself. We love you all and please take some time to reconnect, reflect, and hone on who you are – an important, special, and amazing human being.
Lastly, here are some other tips from Kotte to keep in ship-shape:
1: Drink water = Over 50 per cent of your body is water; you need to stay hydrated, not only with beer and wine, but H2O too. It will help your body and mind, as well as flush all of the systems in your body.
2: Stay present = Don't let your mind take you far from your body, and from reality. If your mind pulls you away, ask yourself, is this true?
3: Reach out if you need support = There is no shame in struggling right now because this is something that we haven't experienced before, so if you're struggling, don't be mean to yourself or hard on yourself. Be kind and accept that today, maybe you are struggling.
4: Stay active = Do some yoga, go for a walk, run, or do whatever works for you. Moving your body will help your brain function with more clarity.
5: Don't compare your lockdown process to anyone else = You have your rhythms and ways – others do too. Some may be super proactive, others not so much. There is no manual on how to do lockdown, so your way is the best way.
Be brave, have courage, and have an open heart! You've got this!
If you are interested in getting further information from Kotte or maybe you have a desire to get further into yoga and meditation following the lockdown, you can reach her through her Facebook page or website linked below.