Yoga on the Brain

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Which is fitting because Saturday marked the sixth anniversary of my stroke. In the months following my injury, I struggled with walking, concentration, sensory and information processing, and managing over-stimulation. Alongside physical therapy, a regular yoga and meditation practice were the biggest source of support for developing new connections in my brain, and rebuilding strength, balance, and coordination. Over the years, I continued to find relief and rehabilitation on the mat while learning to navigate the new normal of my invisible injury.Two months after the stroke, I wrote a letter to a friend with the headline, Things I've learned from stroke that are good for life. At the risk of summoning SNL’s Stuart Smalley (“You're good enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it, people like you!”), I still return to the list from time to time:1) Slow down.2) Focus on one thing at a time.3) Walking is hard. Then try adding everything else you do and realize why that's harder.4) Quiet the noise.5) Take time to process physical and mental stimulation before adding more. Sometimes you'll need to stop all activity, walk away, or end a conversation.6) Think about how much energy it takes to do different things before you do them. Think about how much energy you have. Act accordingly.7) Different people create/consume different types of energy. Surround yourself with people who nurture what you need.8) Two steps forward, one step back isn't such a bad way to make progress. Sometimes you have to push the limit to determine where it is. But once you find your boundaries, be sure to tell everyone else what they are.9) Sleep when you're exhausted.10) Who you are isn’t what (or how well) (or how fast) you do.11) Don't just accept help; ask for it.12) People love you. You don't even know how much.On Friday, March 31, 5:30-6:45 pm, Upper Valley Yoga is hosting a benefit class for the LoveYourBrain Foundation. Founded by UV natives Kevin and Adam Pearce, this national organization is doing essential work to support people living with traumatic brain injury (TBI). They provide direct service through free yoga and meditation programs; create community by connecting survivors who often struggle with isolation and depression; and promote awareness of the impact of TBI through education initiatives. Perhaps most importantly the Pearce family has shared their story, creating space for countless others to speak about their own experiences. LoveYourBrain was instrumental in supporting my own journey back to health and I am so very grateful for their work. I hope you’ll join us on March 31. Sign up here.When not at UVY, Stephanie connects grown-up and little people with art through the Hopkins Center’s Outreach & Arts Education programs. If you follow the trail of nature photos, you might find her trekking the local woods documenting moments of Zen.