Tag: yoga

Alexa Steve

Alexa Steve  

Posted on September 27, 2021 by - Uncategorized

What is the story related to mental health, suicide, and/or resilience that you’d like to share?   

When I moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, I had just graduated college. I was moving to be with my soon-to-be husband, who is an excellent support for me. Leaving college, I felt my community disband, which I had been in constant contact with for the last 5 years. I deeply missed my friends and felt lonely moving to a new place where I knew just one person. I had a lot of difficult days, grieving the loss of the closeness I had felt with the ones I loved. Even though all I wanted was a friend group, I found myself isolating at our apartment and not wanting to go out in the community. 

 

What resources have helped you to address this challenge?  

My husband was a great source of comfort, as well as remaining in contact with my friends virtually. I enjoyed doing yoga throughout college, and explored the various studios in Rapid City before landing on The Yoga Studio. I found great joy in the classes as well as the community-based events, and found new people to build spend time with. The Yoga Studio provided solace during a time I felt so lonely. 

 

Based on your experience, how can we work to build resilience in ourselves, our loved ones, and in our communities to better face life’s challenges? 

To build resilience at a population level, it is important to have spaces where people can connect and belong. These allow people to find common ground and build relationships with those who have similar interests. Addressing mental wellness at a population level benefits everyone. 

 

What is one thing related to mental health, suicide, or resilience that you wish everyone could understand? 

It is OK to not be OK. And it is important to remember mental health is just as serious as any physical issue. 

Stephanie Fischer

Stephanie Fischer

Posted on September 16, 2021 by - Uncategorized

What is the story related to mental health, suicide, and/or resilience that you’d like to share?   

Since being diagnosed with clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder at the age of 17, I have struggled loving myself and treating myself kindly, both mentally and physically. Starting in college, moments of panic and anxiety led to self-harm in various forms. Heavy drinking in college led to an endless loop of hangover anxiety and depression that often lasted days, only for the cycle to start over. This continued at least two years into my professional career. At the age of 28, I’m finally learning to appreciate and love myself as the only human or thing I should love more than anything and truly take care of my mental health. 

What resources have helped you to address this challenge?  

The safe and lovely community at The Yoga Studio in Rapid City has truly saved me. The teachers encourage self-love and appreciation of our bodies and our breath as sources of life. Having struggled with my relationship with myself, being reminded in every class that I have one body that serves me in every unique way has been a saving grace. 

Based on your experience, how can we work to build resilience in ourselves, our loved ones, and in our communities to better face life’s challenges? 

Modeling self-love and self-care is so important in building a resilient community. That starts with safe, judgement-free spaces. I hope my loved ones know that they are not a burden to me, and if time to rest their bodies and minds replaces our plans, I am just as happy. 

 

What is one thing related to mental health, suicide, or resilience that you wish everyone could understand? 

I wish people understood that we are human beings, not human doings. It’s so important to listen to our minds and our bodies. If you need to rest, then rest. Cancel those plans, take that sick day, do something that makes you happy because at the end of the day, the relationship you have with yourself should be the most important.