By JACCI GRUNINGER,
MS, C-IAYT
Los Alamos

Did you know there is more than one way to be tired?

The Wellness Wheel I use as a yoga therapist and inner relationship focusing coach is divided into seven categories: physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, financial, environmental and social.

I regularly work with clients in the emotional, intellectual and physical realms. Although the other slices sometimes play into my work as well.

You might think there is only one way to be tired; you didn’t get enough sleep. Which is definitely a way to be tired. However, as you can see from the Wellness Wheel you could also be tired in any of the dimensions.

Maybe you’re financially tired – working, working, working but not making ends meet. Maybe you are socially tired, having too much going on or not enough or you are in relationships that don’t feed your soul.

We are multidimensional individuals so it makes sense that we can be tired in many different ways.This means the rest we need might not always be the same.

I think we each need a “wellness budget”. Consider the activities you engage in within each of the wellness wheel categories.

Are you over spending, under spending? The goal is to create a balanced, harmonious budget. If you are tired in one area, it ultimately depletes all the areas – there is lack of balance.

After you have determined where you are in each category, then create a list of things that will help you replenish those categories. Ask yourself – what kind of tired are you? What kind of rest or respite do you need?

Here are a few suggestions from a yoga perspective on ways to rest in each category:

Physical Rest
Practice restorative yoga or yoga nidra (yogic sleep)
Practice walking meditation inside or outside.
Counting each footfall 1-10
Counting 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6,
1-7, etc. then 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 etc. up to 10
Say to yourself heel-toe
Shake and wiggle

Intellectual Rest
Read a fun book that draws you inside
Try doing something with your hands like a yoga mudra (gesture)
Practice seated meditation watching your thoughts come and go

Emotional Rest
Let yourself cry both on your mat and off
Seek support from family, friends or professionals
Practice Metta Loving Kindness Meditation

Spiritual Rest
Be with nature
Pray
Go on retreat

Financial Rest
Create a budget with a bit of wiggle room
Be truthful (practice satya) about your financial situation
Set reasonable goals for yourself
Environmental Rest
Check your home for air and water quality
Create space, declutter
If you practice yoga, make it a sacred space

Social Rest
Consider your relationships – do they feed you or drain you?
Pause or increase social interactions as needed

In yoga, we try to create SATTVA (harmony) in everything we do. When we have this sense of balance the wind can be whirling around outside and around us, but inside we are restful and at peace.

Jacci Gruninger is a Certified Yoga Therapist, Thai Yoga Massage Therapist, Focusing Coach and Facilitated Stretch Practitioner. She regularly helps clients manage the ups and downs of life with yoga, meditation, breathwork, focusing, stretching and bodywork. Her Wellness Center is at 190 Central Park Square #212. For her in person and online teaching schedule and information on her other services, visit www.highmountainwellbeing.com.