This is the second vlog in a series on 4 Pillars of Yoga Therapy, which is on Cultivating Discipline.

In the first pillar we focused on Honoring the Nervous System, and discipline is directly connected with the nervous system. There are many ways to work directly with the nervous system, and one of them is through creating stability in the body and mind through a routine.

As I have learned from my teacher, Saundaryāmbikā, when my lifestyle is chaotic that will create or maintain internal chaos. If I sleep at different times each day or eat at varied times my physiology and nervous system lives in a state of chaos.

When I can cultivate a discipline it can create a sense of stability and security for the body, mind and nervous system. Our nervous system likes structure and predictability, which can help to settle and keep it more regulated.

Trauma is unpredictable and chaotic, and if my lifestyle is also unpredictable and chaotic it can continually keep the system in a state of fight, flight and freeze, which can make trauma healing more challenging.

Everyone has some routines in their life. It might be brushing your teeth every morning and evening, walking your dog or having a standing date with a friend. These points of structure can be grounding and healing. 

Take stock of your life where you already have structure and predictability. Look for even the small things that support a sense of routine in your life. Even if life feels out of control or unstructured there are still things you do every day and/or week that provide a sense of predictability and stability. 

One of the best ways to create structure is to maintain a daily routine. When we go to sleep and wake up at the same time our physiology can begin to settle. When we eat at the same times our digestion, of our food as well as internal and external experiences, begins to become stronger and experiences, including traumas, don’t get as stuck in our system. Meditation or a daily movement practice can also be supportive disciplines that can be stabilizing to the body and mind.

As you reflect on where you have discipline and where you don’t can you think of one way you can bring more stability in your life as a practice of honoring the nervous system? As my teacher instructs when you add a new discipline into your life try it consistently for 3 months and notice what happens. Do you feel more content? Can you sleep more easily? Are your menstrual cycles less troublesome? After 3 months you can assess whether this is a routine you want to maintain or not, but give it at least that amount of time to see the effects. 

If you want to learn more about lifestyle recommendations that can support your nervous system I highly recommend the Heart of Wellness book by Saundaryāmbikā, which will walk you through a structured process to establish a routine to support your physiology, mind, body, nervous system, energy and heart. For all new yoga therapy clients this book is included in your first package because I have found that when people can follow these lifestyle recommendations the processing of trauma, the shifting of depressive or anxious states or the ability to move whatever is stuck within the system can move with more ease and fluidity. Working on balancing the physiology with its natural rhythms helps everything else come into balance as well. 

If you decide to add a new routine to your life let me know! I’d love to hear what you are working with and share what you discover after 3 months of consistent practice! See what you learn about yourself, your nervous system and your own healing journey by bringing in a simple routine into your life.