Week two: yoga and breathwork

This week, I’m trying to incorporate self-care into my regime to stop a downward spiral. I’m dealing with a fresh wave of grief for a family member who died last year, and that’s really affecting my mood.

Lenherr suggests deep breathing and yoga to regulate stress, and while at first I don’t think those interventions will touch the sides, they do leave me feeling noticeably calmer.

“Anyone who lives in our modern day is likely to have some kind of stress,” Lenherr says. “Our body doesn’t really know the difference between getting an angry email and being on the edge of a cliff.” It’s not just that stress makes us feel wired and antsy; stress can also impact the microbiome. Stress causes the body to release cortisol and other stress hormones, and too much of this can disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

“I tried 4 gut health hacks to see if they could help to improve my mental health”