The Mental Well Community Connections: Liz R.
Tell us a little about yourself—your background, where you are now, and anything that feels important to who you are today.
I’m a 38-year-old Maryland native, currently living in Mount Vernon, Baltimore teaching yoga and other movement modalities. I’m also an artist, a cat mom, and a freelance consultant!
What does a “good day” look like for you in this season of life?
The best days have a quiet start - a peaceful moment on the couch with coffee and my cat - and then some outside time in between teaching classes. I love seeing my students from class to class and meeting new people in the community. I’m a total extrovert so any day I get to socialize is a great day!
What’s something small that has been bringing you joy lately, and why does it matter to you?
I’ve been trying to establish a more consistent practice of quick-form journaling — just a few words on the page in the middle of the day to capture my mind state and to hopefully reset myself for the rest of the day. I got inspired by Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages (The Artist’s Way) but I’m so not a morning person! Midday is usually a time I can sit down and spend a few seconds doing this check-in, and it usually helps my day feel more organized.
What is something you’re passionate about when it comes to mental health, and what shaped that perspective?
GETTING HELP. Like I imagine many people do, I spent years resisting getting help (therapy, support groups, medication) for mental health struggles. Eventually I allowed myself to see how it might feel to work with someone who could offer insight and support. It was definitely the right thing to do!
Can you share a challenge you’ve faced and what it taught you about yourself?
I have always struggled with negative body image and eating disorders, and it’s still something I work on in therapy.
Working to reprogram my self-talk over many years has shown me that I can change patterns through consistency and compassion. And I can now extend that patience and compassion to others.
How do you take care of your mental health in your day-to-day life? What has been most helpful?
I truly believe that yoga saved my life: in the most challenging times, it served as a healthy distraction, as a coping mechanism, as a comforting routine, and as a source of community. Most of my best friends in Baltimore are people I met on the mat.
In a practical way, the different types of yoga practices I’ve studied over the years provide a big selection of techniques to help me feel better physically, mentally, and spiritually. If I’m having a bad day, the mat is the first place I go when I have a moment to myself.
What helps you get through difficult moments?
I turn to the teachings of yoga in challenging times. I remind myself that nothing is permanent, that I have options, and that I have ways to soothe myself when I need it. The breath is always available as a soothing tool. Yoga is also about compassion and non-harming, so I return to these principles when I am feeling triggered!
When do you feel most like yourself?
When I’m on my yoga mat, when I’m painting, and when I’m relaxing with friends.
What does “community” mean to you, and where do you find it in your life?
Community is what makes life beautiful, and I live by the belief that we are all responsible for taking care of our communities. I try to cultivate it everywhere and also help others make connections.
What’s something you wish more people understood about mental health?
That it’s never too late or too early to start taking care of yourself. If you feel like it’s too late that change how you feel, I am here to tell you that you deserve to feel better and live with more ease. Feel like you don’t need help? Amazing, now’s a good time to learn some techniques that can help later!
What is one habit, routine, or mindset that has made a positive difference in your life?
After growing up with an anxious mind, it had been revolutionary to remind myself that I can DECIDE not to hyper-fixate on the negative. It takes a lot of practice, but when I catch myself spiraling, I can remind myself that stressing won’t solve the problem — and that I can only control my own actions and decisions.
What are you currently working toward or hoping for in the next year or two?
I would like to develop some yoga training offerings that I can facilitate at studios around Baltimore and throughout Maryland - maybe even to take on the road. I am super lit-up by teaching teachers and would like to do more of that.
In personal projects, I am working on a series of paintings of Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. It’s a very inspiring location for me and I would love to have a collection of paintings that remind me what it’s like to be there!
If someone reading this is struggling right now, what would you want them to hear?
I would want them to hear that they deserve to feel better. And that there are people who love them very much, and want them to be happy, even if they feel very alone.
Just for fun—what’s your favorite way to spend a free afternoon?
If it’s a nice day, a walk around the neighborhood, a coffee, and a book or a sketchpad in the park. If it’s raining, a good old reality TV marathon!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our community?
Please know how special you are and that the community needs you and your gifts! Keep up the good work even when it is very, very hard, and take care of one another.
