solace in suffering

When all your desires are distilled
You will cast just two votes:
To love more,
And be happy.

Hafez

A friend and former client recently asked me something along the lines of: how do I continue to manage my stress when stressful things keep happening?

The first of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths tells us that life includes suffering, or dukkha, which roughly translates as “facing suffering.” So if you’re struggling: you’re human / you’re not alone.

The second truth divulges where suffering comes from [i.e. desiring and wanting]; the third says that there are ways of avoiding suffering [i.e. seizing desiring and wanting]; the fourth reminds us that in order to continue to alleviate suffering we must continue on the path to liberation [the Buddha’s Eightfold Path].

Although my own personal roundup of rejuvenating recommendations are certainly not the Buddha’s Eightfold Path, they have had the power of relieving my own suffering in the current uncertain circumstances, and cultivating joy to boot.

Here are some products and practices that are keeping me grounded, as sane as possible, [mostly] happy and healthy during the shifting of the seasons / virus / social and economic and political movements / life as we know it:

yoga + movement:

• My own home practice | find online classes with me here or try My Mission 360 and use code SASHAN25 for 25% off the first 3 months [stay tuned for updates].
• Walking outdoors | bonus: find a park or get near a local body of water.
• Pranayama/Restorative & Iyengar Asana | weekly with Genny Kapuler.
• The Teachers Practice with Nikki Costello | Iyengar expertly broken down for teachers [non-teachers welcome], to be continued in October.
• Hip Hop with Ms Vee | my girl Val teaches classes on Zoom for all levels and updates it on her IG!

meditation

• Working with Thoughts & Thinking | my go-to; simple yet profound.
• Guiding Yourself Back to the Moment | brings me back to the now.
• Working With Fear & Stress| helps me settle down on difficult days.
• Compassion for Others & Ourselves | an ongoing practice.
• Breathing for Calm | connecting to the breath cultivates instant ease.
• Wings of Awareness | allowing emotions to exist without resistance.
• Gratitude Reset | focusing on what’s working vs what’s lacking.
• Connecting to Nature | this always calms me.
• Chakra Meditation | helps me land in my body.
• Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield | my go-to teachers.

food

• My own summer pasta dish | on repeat, no shame.
• Picnics | outdoor foodie fun; safe for social distancing and boosts mood.
• Unique Hammond’s Bean Protocol | modified to suit my needs; helps me to redefine my relationship with food and stay as healthy as possible – especially during the pandemic.
• Tips from Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum | I love her recent post from 15 August, 2020 about boiled milk with spices vs coffee.
• Ayurveda à la Divya Alter and Divya’s Kitchen | find ongoing inspiration in her cookbook.

podcasts

• Ten Percent Happier | Buddhism and mindfulness candidly explained by the experts.
• How I Built This | inspiring and intriguing stories of business owners and their journeys.
• Armchair Expert | I loved the episodes with John Legend and Heather McGhee.
• Expanded with Lacy Phillips | for those interested in self-reflection and manifesting desires.
• Indecisively Decisive with Jess Meltzer | my dear friend explores how we navigate our lives and figure ourselves out – find me on episode 2.

clothing

• Vinted | European second-hand buying and selling for the win.
• Posh Mark | use code SASHAYOGA for $10 to buy [and sell] in the states.
• Ripple yoga wear | obsessed with the organic cotton jumpsuit – use code YsSashaN for 12% off.
• Hyde organic yoga apparel | my forever favorite – use code sashahyde for 10% off.
• Blue light blocking glasses | protect your eyeballs – I love BLUblox and Barner.
• Upcycle | I recently resoled beloved shoes, repaired and re-sized dresses, and am resurfacing old neglected pieces to either donate, sell, or wear. Read Marie Kondo’s book for inspo.

skin + hair care

• Taza Ayurveda | luxurious oils and natural supplements – use code TAZASN for 15% off.
• D’Still Beauty | my friend Ula is creating a luscious natural line, alongside an inspiring blog.
• Egyptian Magic | gentle and soothing, especially for sensitive skin or dry days/areas.
• Straight up oils | Sesame and extra virgin olive oil for face and body, coconut oil for after sun – especially sunburns.
• Facial massage | watch the end of this video with Divya of Taza Ayurveda for a simple yet powerful way to access your marma [energy] points and show your face some love.
• Davines A Single Shampoo | 100% carbon neutral in a 100% recyclable bottle [read more here].

books

• Me and White Supremacy | Layla F. Saad
• Radical Acceptance | Tara Brach
• It’s Not Your Money | Tosha Silver
• Mindfulness of Race | Ruth King
• *More on my Amazon storefront.

to watch

• Sex Education | great writing, relatable, fun to watch, informative, and addresses important topics.
• Down To Earth with Zac Efron and Darin Olien | an exploration of international sustainable efforts.
• (Un)Well | interesting new docuseries showcasing the ups and downs of the wellness world.
• Middleditch & Schwartz | whether you not you enjoy improv, this is FUNNY.
• The Good Place | insightful, meaningful, and hilarious all at once – go forth and binge.
• Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill | intelligent and hysterical, per usual.
• Becoming | Michelle Obama’s inspiring documentary about her book.
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | quick-witted writing, gorgeous sets and costumes, intriguing storylines, all the feels.
• Chef’s Table | all of them.

music

• 90s Nostalgia | my personal playlist of old school classics.
• Yoga vibes & hip hop hits | more of my own mixes.
• Sleep tunes | I like tracks featuring Binaural Beats [sound frequencies to help calm the mind].
• Black Is King | I have yet to watch Beyoncé’s visual album but am on it!

blog posts on relieving anxiety

• Redefining Body Image
• Calming Covid Care Resources
• Keep Calm[ish] and Keep Inquiring
• Do Something Different
• Loving Kindness in Confinement

feel good things

• Making sure I’m registered to vote | message me if you need assistance.
• Giving back | I am learning more about and supporting inspiring organizations in any way I can like Breaking Bread in NYC – and especially for racial advocacy .
• Shopping consciously | this goes for everything we purchase, where we spend our dollars, and which companies we choose to support – reference my Amazon storefront or message me for personal suggestions.
• Tribindu spray from Chandika | my favorite Ayurvedic air freshener with other amazing healing properties – use code SAVEME10 for 10% off.
• Virtual hangouts | Zooming with old friends is basically therapy; video chats with the fam makes me feel like we’re close even when we’re on separate continents.
• Sunset walks with no agenda | a self-love story.

No one is exempt from pain, but we can mitigate suffering by practicing whatever helps us stay on the path of awareness and mindfulness as best we can – whether it’s via meditation or movies, food or fun activities.

No one is exempt from potential illness, disease, or discomfort, but that doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t take preventative measures to benefit our physical and mental wellbeing.

We are truly, always, still in this together – we don’t have to prove or push ourselves to be a savior (of course there is a time and place for this if necessary), and we must not opt out of healing in defeat of the daunting task of staying afloat right now.

So what does one do? Take it day by day; lean into whatever feelings arise; call on a steady support system / trusted confidant when needed; create a personalized safety net / life raft that helps to act as an anchor amidst the fluctuating waves of life.

What are you doing / do you do to find softness during sticky and uncertain times?

Read the newsletter for apéro inspo courtesy of a fellow expat friend, my second round of a 4-week virtual mindfulness series, a new grounding meditation, discounts from like-minded brands, and good vibes.

Onward.

Photo: Christina Amarens / Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany / September 2019.