With the unique demands of the stepmom role, it’s common for stepmoms to experience stress and anxiety. As a way to manage this stress and anxiety, meditation and mindfulness classes have gained in popularity recently. Sarah Ortolf, who is a Usui Reiki Master/Teacher and Karuna Reiki® II Certified, teaches meditation and mindfulness classes in Scottsdale, Arizona. She offers some quick tips for stepmoms who are feeling stressed and anxious.
What inspired you to start teaching meditation and mindfulness classes?
I began a healing journey for myself in 2007 that led me to a new way of helping others. During this journey, I discovered my purpose is to connect with people to help them overcome challenges and come to positive resolutions, to assist them in achieving their highest potential, and to help them become the healthiest and happiest version of themselves. I have always felt a strong desire to help others and in this role, I am a coach, accountability partner, and facilitator of healing. It is my goal to share what I have learned with as many people as possible to improve and enhance their lives.
What is your top tip for reducing stress?
Learning to become aware of your thoughts and feelings before the stress levels build up is so important! Just that awareness and acknowledgement, with a nice full breath, can change the entire way your energy and emotions are functioning and stop the build up before it starts to pile up.
You offer a variety of classes. Which classes, topics or what types of mental exercises would you suggest for stepmoms who are feeling stress and anxiety in their lives?
So many! It depends on the amount of time available, the circumstances and a variety of other things. I would say as a bolster to my first answer, learning to be aware of thoughts and feelings (which sounds a little funny but is a really powerful first step), and learning to STOP JUDGING yourself for those feelings would be the best place to start. Following that, there are some progressive relaxation techniques that work really well and can be done in 5 minutes or extended out to 30 minutes or more with practice and when time allows.
What is the best way for stepmoms to connect with you or to find out about your classes?
I send weekly e-mails with updated information about classes, so they can email me at SarahJaneSymphonias@gmail.com to be added to my mailing list. I also have a Facebook page and a website where I post articles and information about my classes. Looking forward to connecting! I always like to remind my students and coaching clients that healthy helps happy.