Why won't they listen?

So you’ve been telling your friend for a while now that they need to take better care of themselves— but they just won’t listen!  Maybe they don’t know HOW to change?  What can you do to help?

1. Be an example. Let your light shine with a healthy attitude by being an example of good health. Eat in moderation. Set aside a little time to meditate and to practice something you learned in yoga class, even for a few minutes. Get in good company with other healthy people.


2. Share your experience. This is the yogic principle of satya: being honest about yourself and your truth. Be clear about the main things that you practice to stay healthy, and invite them to do it with you. Invite your friend on a walk, or share a healthy meal. Reinforce your own healthy habits by talking about what drew you to yoga and how you feel as a result. Ask them to join you at your favorite yoga class. They will likely feel better that same day and you will, too, for helping someone in need.

3. Be encouraging, not pushy. Everyone has to find their own way through hard times, but you know that peace of mind is found through three, simple, daily actions: proper breathing, moving your body, and meditation. Encourage your friend to take 2 minutes every day to just breathe. The simple act of breathing encourages mindfulness, which calms the nervous system in just minutes. This is the foundation for your yoga practice.

4. Be patient and kind. Loving-kindness toward all beings is the yogic principle of ahimsa. We can feel frustrated when someone we care about is blind to the source of their own suffering, but we don’t want to make them feel worse by lecturing them. When your friend decided to take a prescription to deal with stress related pain, perhaps they were ignorant of the snowball of side effects, or didn’t know they had a better choice. Lifestyle changes aren’t made overnight, and it will take the patience of a caring friend who can make a big difference in their life with small acts of kindness.

You can help someone in need by introducing them to Full Circle Yoga. We have a variety of mind-body classes that will help them breathe easier from the very first class, no matter where they started from.

~Kristen