How Yoga Helped Me During the Pandemic

As some of you might know, I completed my first 200 hours yoga teacher training 5 months ago. It was an incredible journey, and I learned so much more during my training than just bendy poses.

Recently my yoga teachers asked me to share how and what yoga has taught me about dealing with a pandemic, and although mine wasn't specifically about the pandemic, it was about my life during the pandemic. Here's what I wrote.

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Life wasn’t super easy these past few months. We experienced a mass layoff at my organization. Everyone’s nervous systems were already in overdrive going into February.

I was given a new role and jumped right into the deep end. The learning curve was daunting, and before anyone had a chance to figure anything out, there came Covid. Not only were we working with new roles/responsibilities with fewer people, we now had to do them remotely. What once was the deep end of the pool, now seemed like the deep end of the ocean.

Yoga helped, beyond asanas. I could hear the words of my teachers, reminding me of the things I learned during yoga teacher training:

• They reminded me that it’s ok to grieve the loss of my colleagues, to know that they will now struggle a little more and that it’s ok to feel the hurt and pain with them. 
• They reminded me that I have a duty to lift people up, to lead the change and be the example I wish others would be for me. 
• They reminded me that imperfection or even failure is ok, because I am intrinsically worthy and valuable even if I’m currently stumbling every other step I take.

It took more courage than I could muster, but I leapt, and life embraced me.

By being vulnerable, I felt more connected than ever. Acknowledging the pain helped my colleagues heal, and many of them are now in a better position than before. Too many things were out of control, so I simply had to let go of control. There were too many stressors, so I simply had to just stop being stressed. I learned that instead of changing the external world, changing my internal state was a much more direct path to peace.

It's been a couple months now, and I have a profound gratitude for everything I’ve lost but also everything I still have. This pandemic showed me that we are all human, flawed, and equal, and yoga taught me how to be a little more forgiving of myself and others.

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To my teachers: Thank you for all the wisdom and knowledge that you shared, thank you for loving us with your whole heart, and thank you for showing us that success can be built on integrity and the purest intention to serve. My practice was and continue to be enhanced by the foundation you've built for us, I think about you often, and you will forever have a special place in my heart.

Inspired Yoga Institute: https://inspiredyogainstitute.com/ or @inspiredyogainstitute on Instagram
Teachers:

• Nora Maskey: https://www.noramaskeyyoga.com/ or @noramaskey on Instagram
• Alice Hong: https://www.alicehong.com/ @alicehong108 on Instagram
• Erin McCaig: https://www.erinmacaig.com/ or @erin.macaig on Instagram

Connect with me through Instagram:

• @joyliuyyc - Joy's photography collection
• @joyliuyoga - Joy's yoga journey
• @inasplitsecondtravel - Joy's travel adventures

I am Light

About an hour into Saturday’s yin yoga sequence, I could see the light leaking through the gaps in the blinds. He always gets us to lie down facing the window, and today was no exception. My mind wandered in and out of my body and around the room. I was still preoccupied with the new role I had gotten after the recent layoff. Insecurities and doubt had been plaguing my mind for a few days now.

“I’m sorry you’re thrown into the deep end again” said my manager, who himself had just been thrown into the deep end too. I smiled and reassured him.

“Well, luckily I know how to swim”, but I was scared.

I’d been struggling to sleep through the night, and sometimes have woken up with my heart seemingly beating out of my chest. I’m worried I won’t be able to learn fast enough, I’m worried I’d be of no value if I don’t pull my weight. I worry, that’s who I used to be. And although I thought I’d gotten better at cultivating internal validation, it’s quietly snuck back.

“Take a deep breath” I said to myself as I moved my face slightly. But there really was no point, with the way my mat was set up, the sun was bound to be in my face for another good 10-20 minutes.

The sun shined through the blinds hitting my face in just the right way. Rays of light reflected in my eyes without blinding it. I swore I could see specks of light inside my eyes, and before I knew it they floated up towards the sun. It was as if I awoke from a long dream. I remembered. I remembered who I was (or am) before I became this girl currently lying here. I was a speck of light, not bound by space. I used to float around in the universe and my existence represented that of millions of others just like me. I floated around day after day, year after year, until I heard of this amazing experience of “being human” everyone told me I had to try at least once, and so I did. It was something I decided to do on a whim, while I was on my way to my next destination. Afterall, time was on my side. The entirety of a human life represented only a tiny sliver of time compared to my real life.

It was really just a casual decision, stopping by earth trying this “human experience”. I had stopped by like any tourist would. As if the entire human experience is as unique, temporary, and special as a trip to Paris. I had the same intention / attitude as well. Like a tourist in an exotic land, I’d try all the cool things. Perhaps I’ll visit the Eiffel tower, get some wine, a pizza and eat dinner by the Seine. In this human life, perhaps I’ll get a job, or become partnered with someone, just like all the humans do. A sort of “when-in-Rome” kind of mentality.

My eyes widened as I realized all this, and the specks of light escaped my view. But I could still hear the other specks of light teasing me.

“She’s taking her human life way too seriously” they said, “have you forgotten who you really are?”

I almost felt like defending myself.

“Oh no, of course not. It’s been great, I’ve truly lived to the max. In fact, this girl’s just recently gotten this new role and that sounds fun, right? Pfft, I’m not too attached.”

So there it was, a sort of out of body experience. If even for a split moment, I felt how it feels to not be afraid; if even just a silly day dream, my mind was opened to a completely new perspective. One that feels so much more full of life and sees so much more excitement instead of worry. One that cherishes this life like the vacation you’ve been dreaming of, the kind you’ve saved up for and vowed to try everything you could think of. And even though that mid-day surf by Kuta beach gave you the worst sunburn of your life, that street stall ceviche made you bond with the toilet for the next 3 days, any discomfort and suffering is all but a part of this amazing epic adventure.

As the weekend comes to an end and the stress sneakily returns with almost too much ease, my chest starts to tighten again. But it was as if I was let in on a huge secret, my heart fills with gratitude. If I close my eyes, I can still see the light and feel the sun in my face. Life is but one detour I took, I’m not sure I’ll remember this one after I’m done and I’m not sure I’ll get another one, so may tomorrow be just another exciting day on this precious precious trip.


Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Joy's People Spotlight

Each week our Communications department would post "People Spotlight" articles on our internal website. It's a great way to get to know our colleagues in ways you normally might not have the opportunity to do so. I know I've made some close friends because of it, and I think it's a great initiative I hope the Communications folks continue to do going forward.

They approached me a few weeks ago and asked me if I'd like to be on People Spotlight. I said yes and we've been working on it since. The article was posted this week, and it's a great little piece on me and my life, so thought I'd share, for those of you interested.

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10 Questions: Joy Liu

Business Process Analyst, IMT

What's the most interesting part of your job?

I get to meet people from all areas of the organization and learn about their work, their processes, what works, what doesn't work. I analyze potential options and recommend process changes or technology solutions that will help them meet their objective.

What is your educational background, and how does it relate to your role at the AER?

I consider myself a life long learner and an analyst at heart. In university, I completed degrees in music theory and international business. My first job exposed me to the world of immigration and sprouted my love for the law, so I also completed a legal assistant certificate from SAIT.

The analytical skills I gained through my music degree set the foundation for the reporting, data analytics, and visualization work that I do. The commerce degree gave me a good understanding of the strategy, structure, and workings of any business, and having the little bit of legal background propelled my ability to express and write with better accuracy and precision. I've since shifted into the information and data world, and have been taking more courses related to Tableau and Structured Query Language (SQL).

Taken at the Fairmont Ball Room where Joy was playing piano during an event.

What do you like best about the AER’s culture?

My group truly works as a team. We're all here to contribute and there's a real sense of passion for the work. I love the culture of everyone pulling their weight, no matter the task and regardless of their role. It really is a collaborative and supportive environment.

How does the work you do contribute to the AER’s vision?

My work contributes to improving the AER's information management practices as they relate to our legislative obligations. In addition, the metadata work we've embarked on is one of the ways we're making the AER's information and data context available and transparent to all staff. This will allow staff to determine whether the information or data they're using is fit for their intended purpose and, subsequently, further enhance and protect the AER's credibility.

Is there any advice you would give to a person who is starting out in your chosen career?

Be honest with yourself about what you like and don't like. Let go of any "shoulds." Be open to possibilities that might not have been what you initially aimed for. Appreciate everything.

What was it like living in the town/country you grew up in?

I grew up in Yu-Chi (which means fish pond), which is a school campus in the countryside of Taiwan. I remember running barefoot across the fields, chasing after snakes and lizards with the neighbour kids. Being and playing in nature every day is a precious experience that I will cherish forever and something I think we all need more of.

Sun Moon Lake near Joy's home town in Taiwan.

How would your best friend describe you?

"You can't fit Joy into any box; she builds her own box, and still operates outside of that box."

Tell us about the most amazing place you've ever visited:

Borobudur, Indonesia. It's a 9th-century Buddhist temple in central Java decorated with 2672 reliefs, or carved panels that look like flat sculptures, and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa–a mound-like dome. We joined the sunrise tour which started at 3:30 a.m. The sun had just started to rise by the time we climbed to the top, and it was the most awe-inspiring experience I've ever had.

Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Indonesia.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

1. English is not my first language. In fact, I didn't come to Canada until I was 17. I've since immigrated and obtained my Canadian citizenship. My parents are still back home in Taiwan and we visit each other often.
   
2. I'm a certified yoga instructor. Wellness has become a big part of my focus and I'm aiming to complete more training this year in yin yoga and meditation. My mission is to encourage people to move more and ditch perfection, no matter their fitness level. A sort of "couch to mat" kind of approach.
   
3. Although my classical and world music training has taken me to most of my performances, my favourite music genres are hip hop, EDM, and jazz. I'm a rhythm junky and wrote my senior paper on the clave beat, common in Afro-Cuban music, and the effects of syncopation.

What advice would you give to yourself if you could travel back in time 10 years?

Slow down, stop worrying, enjoy the journey, and stop to smell the roses. Be unapologetically yourself and don't be concerned with people who don't accept you for who you are. Like Steve Jobs said, "your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

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Connect with me through Instagram:
@joyliuyyc - Joy's photography collection
@joyliuyoga - Joy's yoga journey
@inasplitsecondtravel - Joy's travel adventures