What does it mean to belong now?

The coronavirus pandemic has affected us all in many ways and how we navigate our individual journeys will vary greatly. I feel like the sense of belonging for many of us has probably shifted since the pandemic compared to what we felt like we belonged to.

A(link removed)of employees said that before the pandemic, the predictors of high levels of belonging were social connection, emotional regulation and authenticity. Not surprisingly, with many employees working remotely due to the pandemic, predictors of belonging have shifted; Relationship building, social connection and self-compassion.

Having changed careers just before the pandemic, I knew my sense of belonging was fluidit was time to leave HRand pursue what I felt was my calling – and is – yoga. I feel absolutely connected to being able to offer the practice of yoga and have different connections to the spaces in which I practice. I know this will likely change over time as I build deeper relationships with studios.

Belongingn. “An affinity for a place or situation.”

I fully agree with the report's findings, which revealed a change in relationship building and creating social connections to create belonging; During the pandemic, when yoga studios closed, I lost interaction with both studio staff and students and had to find ways to build relationships with new studios as schedules understandably had to change. Social connection has been an important part of the pandemic for me and, although virtual, being able to talk to friends during lockdown has been both important and deeply rewarding for me. Having a 14-day video call with two yoga teacher friends to look forward to definitely helped me create a sense of belonging. There was real understanding, empathy and support for each other's situations, which was really valuable.

Why is belonging important?

"Creating a sense of belonging for all employees is crucial for companies to get the best out of their teams. A sense of belonging is one of the most important psychological needs that must be met for employees to feel connected to their company and is the foundation for building an effective team," saysRicky Somal,Deputy Director of Organizational Development and Inclusion at Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

Most yoga teachers are self-employed and often work in multiple studios that do not have the fixed base of an employee location where you see the same colleagues all week long. But for both corporate employees and self-employed people, this sense of belonging looks different in the wake of Covid-19 restrictions, as both groups navigate a post-pandemic world. This can be further complicated by how confident people feel that they are truly being recognized as individuals.

What creates a sense of belonging?

"There is growing evidence that exclusion harms people and harms business outcomes. On the other hand, belonging promotes performance, teamwork and well-being."BetterUp Advice

• Arbeitgeber/Geschäftsinhaber müssen sicherstellen, dass sie eine Atmosphäre geschaffen haben, in der ihre Teams wirklich das Gefühl haben, dass sie frei sprechen und uns Gehör schenken können
• Sich einbezogen zu fühlen und Vorschläge machen zu können, wo sich die Leute nicht zugehörig fühlen, kann einen positiven Effekt haben. Netzwerke gleichgesinnter Gruppen können die Zugehörigkeit fördern
• (Link entfernt) sollen ein Zugehörigkeitsgefühl aufbauen. Wenn Menschen mit den Zielen und Zielen von Organisationen in Resonanz stehen, wirkt sich dies positiv auf ihr Engagement für die Organisation/das Unternehmen aus

How do you navigate a shift in belonging?

Yoga practice can play a key role in helping us navigate changes in belonging, but yoga spaces must ensure they continue to follow suit(link removed)to ensure spaces are inclusive, contributing to a sense of belonging rather than exclusion

• Üben Sie sich selbst – Freundlichkeit: Die letzten 15 Monate waren für uns alle eine Menge zu kämpfen, daher hat sich Ihr Zugehörigkeitsgefühl verschoben oder fehlt es Ihnen, Praktiken zu finden, die Ihnen helfen, sich zu entspannen und sich besser zu fühlen. Kollegen, Freunde und Unternehmen, mit denen Sie verbunden waren, sind möglicherweise während der Pandemie aufgrund der Auswirkungen auf das Geschäft weggezogen, ganz zu schweigen von persönlichen Entscheidungen, die für das Wohlbefinden getroffen wurden (mental/finanziell oder beides).
• Gute Gewohnheiten schaffen: Wie bereits erwähnt, ist Selbstliebe wichtig, da wir uns in einer Welt bewegen, die ständig im Fluss ist. Ziehen Sie einige der folgenden Achtsamkeitsübungen in Betracht, um Angst und Emotionen im Zusammenhang mit dieser Veränderung zu bewältigen und auf Ihren Selbstpflegeroutinen aufzubauen:
  • Wandern in der Natur – suche dir eine lokale Grünfläche und lass dein Handy vielleicht zu Hause
  • Nehmen Sie ein Schaumbad mit Ihren Lieblingsprodukten oder (Link entfernt)
  • Yoga- oder Meditationspraxis – Beide Übungen können nur 10 oder 15 Minuten dauern, eine Yoga-Haltung zählt als Yoga-Praxis. Dies ist hilfreich, wenn Sie wenig Zeit haben oder einen vollen Terminkalender haben. Sie müssen keinen Druck verspüren, dass das Üben eine Stunde dauern muss (wenn Sie die Zeit haben, großartig, wenn nicht jede Zeit, die Sie haben, kann arbeiten)

Take time to recognize or restore your sense of belonging, it is understandable that your affinity to a place may well have changed given the last 15 months and our experience with the pandemic. Practice self-love as you navigate the journey that comes with it.

Yogamatters recommends:

These supportive self-care products will help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

Stay on the carpet

I love the connection I feel to the earth of this cork mat and no slipping!
Yogamatters Eco Cork Yoga Mat – Black

DIY physiotherapy

Relieving tension made easy! Use this sustainable tool to rejuvenate yourself: use it on the wall or let gravity take control and relax by rolling on the floor. Yogamatters cork peanut massage roller

Take your time bathing

The ability to relax in a bubble bath is great for self-care: (link removed). A candle is always welcome for meditating or relaxing in the bubble bath (link removed)