WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Local wellness experts offer tips

By Molly Milroy and Andrea Busche

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be difficult to accomplish our regular daily tasks, let alone carve out time for self-care. Most of us have many “irons in the fire,” including work, raising kids, caring for pets, looking after aging parents and running side businesses.

But we all need to unplug, relax and tune out from time to time. Taking a self-imposed “time out” is beneficial for our mental health, the quality of our sleep and maintaining healthy relationships.

Here in the Northland, options abound. Many qualified wellness professionals, including practitioners of yoga, Reiki and massage — can easily be found. But if time and finances are scarce, thankfully a bit of self-care can be accomplished free of charge with just a few minutes of your time.

Two local professionals, Debbie Merrick, owner of In Harmony Reiki and Inner Wellness located in West Duluth, and Kat Warner, owner of Align Yoga in Superior, shared their recommendations for attaining a healthier work-life balance, and therefore, a better life.

Decide what’s important

When it comes to work-life balance, the first thing Merrick suggests is deciding there is a choice.

“How much energy do I want to apply to each of the things in my life? What things do I maybe like, but they’re not as important to me and I can let those go for now?” She encourages asking ourselves.

“You don’t have to forget about them all together,” she said, “But maybe it’s not the season in life to participate in that (activity), and you can split things down a little bit so you can enjoy each thing you are doing more.”

Once you’ve done some analysis, it’s time to choose the type of self-care that works best for you.

Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine, focused on energy healing.

“What that means,” Merrick said, “is our whole body, mind, thoughts, beliefs and memories — all of that is energy. Our body is energy and our energy system extends out beyond our body.

“Our energy system has its own rhythm and flow to it,” she added. “When it’s harmonized and flowing in a good rhythm, then we’re usually healthy, happy and things are usually on target.”

During a Reiki session, the client lays fully-clothed on a massage table. The practitioner will feel where the energy is not flowing correctly or thoroughly. Merrick does this by laying her hands on them, starting at their head or their feet.

“Clearing the blocks, cleansing the system of anything that no longer serves us and then refilling the energy system with source energy, God energy, whatever you want to call it,” she explained. “The body then restores its own rhythm and flow, and then it’s in the best condition to heal itself.”

Clients experience a variety of sensations, including warmth, tingling or waves of energy moving in their body. Sharon Osborn, a regular client of Merrick’s, said, “When I have a Reiki session with Debbie, I feel physically lighter, my body is more relaxed, and I have a general sense of well-being.”

In addition to Reiki, In Harmony also offers posture training, life coaching and a variety of weekly workshops.

Yoga

Yoga is another option for self-care. Local classes are enjoyable and easy to locate, but one can also be self-taught by watching YouTube videos or renting an instructional DVD from the library.

Warner shared how yoga can help us all find more of that elusive work-life balance.

“Yoga gives you a break in your day. It gives you some ‘me time,’ and the ability to relax and move. Hopefully, you can shut down five of the 10 tabs open in your brain and slow down. It also teaches you skills (meditation and breathwork) that you can do throughout your day to help reduce stress and anxiety.”

Align Yoga was founded three years ago on the belief that not only is yoga about movement and feeling good, but it also

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