From Burnout to Bloom

Wow that was a long Winter! Despite being lucky enough to have spent two weeks in the sunshine midway through the season that still felt like an incredibly lengthy winter.

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Personally, I experienced many setbacks and challenges over the last five months, and I know from speaking to my yoga clients that many of them had similar experiences. We have experienced loss; we had to say goodbye to so many loved ones. There have been mental health challenges possibly triggered by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) due to the lack of sunshine. There have been professional failures and financial disasters. It definitely felt like I had been tested by the universe, forced to pivot, encouraged to go inwards and to be honest, giving me a much-needed kick up the backside! Feeling depleted now but at the same time hopeful for Spring? Yes, me too. It’s time to reframe the pain as opportunity.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed and powerless, I focus on small, simple daily activities and rituals. As the dark days of winter slowly began to fade, I turned my attention to short morning tasks that had a cumulative effect, helping me take baby steps forward and focus on what I could control. I aimed for an average of 10,000 steps a day, prioritised staying hydrated—especially with herbal teas that not only warmed me up but also offered the added benefits of their natural herbs. I listened to daily affirmations, followed my own 10-minute morning yoga practice on YouTube, did some intermittent fasting so I wouldn’t “eat” the feelings I was trying to avoid. and took my supplements religiously. I incorporated dry body brushing to my morning routines. I even sought help from a Psychotherapist. I practiced what I preach as a holistic health coach and yogi. Even when I didn’t feel like it, I pushed through.

As spring dawns, I am ready to reclaim my energy, find balance, and create space for joy—and dare I say it, fun! Maybe the transition of the seasons wasn’t as dramatic for you this year (I hope it wasn’t) and you’re breezing into spring. Either way, let me support you by encouraging you to tap into simple practices, tips, and rituals through yoga and Ayurveda, the ancient science of life.

Let’s talk detox. No, I’m not suggesting dramatic juice diets or colonic irrigation. I’m talking about digital and energetic detox. Unfollow, mute, and be discerning about whom you are giving your power away to—it really is that important. What you consume through all your senses is prana, your life force, and your digital diet counts.

Swap accounts that make you feel bad and constant news updates for binaural music, affirmations, and high-vibe playlists. Download inspiring podcasts and audiobooks. Use your device to learn a language instead of consuming endless reels or TikTok’s. Delete photos and files—spring clean your entire electronic world.

My Spring Detox Journey with Yoga and Ayurveda.

Stepping away and being choosey about who and what has access to your energy, brings more clarity, focus, and connection to the present. Create more than you consume. This energetic refresh can be continued into decluttering and spring cleaning your physical spaces.

Which leads to the body. Using the wisdom of Ayurveda, and staying in tune with nature, it’s time to move from the heavy, earthy energy of Winter, considered a Kapha season, to a lighter energy of Spring. Choose seasonal foods to eat, change up your beverages, and why not start buying yourself a weekly bunch of seasonal flowers. If you don’t do it already, introduce the practice of tongue scraping and self-massage, Spring is a great time to start.

In your yoga practice, it may be time to emerge from a cocoon of restorative and yin yoga into more yang movements, like Hatha or Vinyasa. Sun Salutations are a sequence that invite in light, warmth and the powerful energy of the Sun. Promote fresh energy in the body with twists, heart openers and balancing possess. But make it fun. Try a new online class, a new venue, new creative outlets. Explore your existing yoga practice, and indeed all your hobbies with a new perspective. Stop talking abut wanting to do things and go and actually do them.

I have been consciously seeking the light—whether by stepping outside for sunrise or making plans for the summer ahead. I am saying yes to everything. I encourage you to connect with what brings you the most joy this season. Not all journeys and transformations need to be grand or life-altering—or even visible to others. Evolution can be private.

This period of my life has shown me that incremental shifts and small changes truly stack up. Progress is progress. And if I take a step back, I trust that I’ll take two forward when I’m ready. The lessons I am learning now will serve me for the rest of my life. I choose to believe that this dark period was me as the bow, pulled back, ready for the arrow to shoot forward—propelling me toward better times.

As I continue my own journey from burnout to bloom, I wish the same for you. May your growth be as beautiful as the spring flowers, turning their faces with hope towards the sun.