Protecting My Energy: How I Notice, Nurture, and Safeguard My Inner Power

Here she goes again, talking about energy :-)

Yes, yes I am — and that’s because it’s so crucially linked to thriving wellbeing. I thought, why not write a blog about that lil’ ole thang energy that I talk about so often in class. So voilà...

For me, energy isn’t only about how much sleep I’ve had or whether I’ve had my morning coffee.

It’s the invisible current that powers my thoughts, moods, and presence — something that, before my yoga journey, I was not in touch with or even aware of. Every conversation, environment, choice, or thought either feeds this current or depletes it.

Over time, I’ve learned that noticing when my energy is being impacted — and understanding what’s happening in my body — is the first step to protecting it.

What Energy Means to Me

When I think about energy, I don’t just mean physical stamina. To me, it’s:

• My mental clarity — whether my thoughts feel sharp or foggy.• My emotional steadiness — whether I feel calm, reactive, positive, or negative.• My sense of vitality — the aliveness, motivation, and willpower I carry into my day.

At the core of all this is my nervous system. It regulates stress, rest, and everything in between. When my nervous system is balanced, my energy feels steady. When it’s overstimulated or shut down, I feel scattered, drained, or disconnected — something I was completely unaware of before yoga.

How I Notice When My Energy Is Impacted

My energy speaks to me in so many ways — and it will speak to you too. Bringing awareness to your energy is a powerful step in living a more nurturing life. Not sure how to notice?

Here are the signals I’ve learned to listen for:

• Physical: Fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, or restless energy. Changes in menstruation or digestion.• Emotional: Irritability, anxiety, or a heavy sense of flatness — maybe even feeling nothing at all. This is your body trying to protect you — a big sign that something’s off and it’s time to prioritise you!• Behavioural: Procrastination, overcommitting, constant distraction, or even wanting to take myself off to bed to escape.• Intuitive: A gut sense of “this doesn’t feel right” after certain conversations or environments. Noticing that default urge to de-escalate or people-please rather than speak your truth.

Check in with how you feel before and after something. Ask yourself: “Do I feel better and more energised?” or “Do I feel worse and more depleted?”

I’ve noticed that when my nervous system is out of balance, I’m not just affected internally anymore — my behaviour spills outward. If I’m short-tempered (usually when the dogs are under my feet!) or distracted, that ripples into how I treat others.

Protecting my energy isn’t just about me — it’s also about the energy I bring into my relationships and environments. When I’m off, I retreat — not to escape, but to reflect, rebalance, and recharge.

How Yoga Helps Me Protect and Restore My Energy

One of the most powerful tools I’ve found for protecting my energy is yoga.

• Regulating my nervous system:Through breathwork, mindful movement, and rest, yoga shifts me out of “fight-or-flight” and into “rest-and-digest.” I can literally feel my heart rate slow, my breath deepen, and my body soften. I use these tools regularly — when feeling overwhelmed or when I need a little restorative stillness after a busy day.

• Building awareness:Yoga teaches me to pause and notice — how my body feels, where I’m holding tension, and what my mind is busy with. While noticing, I can create distance between those sensations and my awareness, recognising that I am the awareness watching them.

This is powerful when observing thoughts, pain, or discomfort. It helps me realise that even when I think I’m relaxed, there’s often more space and softness I can surrender into — letting go of unconscious, unnecessary activation.

That awareness makes it easier to recognise the subtle ways my energy shifts throughout the day.

• Connecting behaviour to impact:On the mat, I’ve learned that forcing, rushing, or ignoring my limits creates strain. When I first started yoga about four years ago, I did all of that — and injured myself a lot (lol). With no guidance and no real understanding of yoga’s true purpose — the journey, not the destination — I learned the hard way.

That’s why I often say in class:

“It’s not what it looks like — it’s how it feels.”“Only you know your body’s edge.”“You are your body’s primary guide — listen to it above my cues.”“Take breaks whenever your body calls for it — this is yoga.”

Off the mat, the same applies. When I push too hard, say “yes” when I mean “no,” or neglect self-care, I end up drained. And when I’m drained, my interactions become distant, impatient, or glazed over — like a computer not registering. The reality is, running a business and house / family by myself is bloody tough on my energy. There is never nothing to do, but i have to calve out those periods of nothing because quite frankly i need it and my wellbeing is my responsibility - nobody is going to do it for me. That said, it is empowering and the peace i have found is worth every effort. It has meant a lot of letting go of things that aren't urgent (like my outdoor cushions that are STILL outdoors and wet through... one day they'll make their way in the shed lol).

Yoga helps me notice this cycle before it spills over, by keeping me in touch with myself and my energy.

• Restoring balance:Whether it’s an energising flow when I feel stagnant or a gentle restorative/yin practice when I’m depleted, yoga helps me recharge in alignment with what I truly need.

This is why I offer a range of classes and membership options — so you can tune into how you feel and choose what serves you best, with self-compassion and understanding.

The more we tune into our own energy and recognise where we’re at, the more we can work with it rather than against it.

How I Protect My Energy in Daily Life

Alongside yoga, these practices support me:

• Boundaries: Saying “no” when something feels too costly. Not replying to messages instantly or putting pressure on myself to do so. Knowing when I need time away from my phone, from people, or any interaction — and simply enjoying my own space.

This is new for me — I don’t think I even knew what the word boundary meant a few years ago! It’s still a work in progress, but thanks to yoga, I’m now consciously on that journey.

• Grounding rituals: Breathwork — so powerful and a real game changer for my energy. Whether it’s balancing, calming, or energising, it’s a tool I always use.

If you ever want help finding the right breathwork for your needs, please ask! Stretching (with conscious breathing, of course) helps me check in and release tension. Remember, tension in the body often manifests from physical, emotional, or mental stress.

And finally — nature (ideally barefoot). It reminds me that I am nature too. This is humbling and helps me be more compassionate with myself and with others.

• Digital hygiene: Curating my online spaces. I’ve recently started reading more with the book club and even enjoying some macramé making — wholesome! Walks without phones, sitting in the garden without scrolling (when weather permits).

• Shaping my environment: Light, music, and scent that calm my system. Lavender and clary sage are my go-tos (unless you’re allergic, of course!).

• Morning and evening rituals: Starting with grounding and ending with closure. I love using apps like Insight Timer, Slowdive, and Nirdrana for mindful sounds, beautiful mantras, meditations, and stories.

Reflection

I’ve come to see that my energy is deeply tied to my nervous system — which is why yoga is so good for me and my busy mind. When I care for it through yoga, rest, nature, and boundaries, I feel more grounded and alive.

Just as importantly, I’ve realised my energy doesn’t exist in isolation. The way I show up impacts the people and environments around me.

A dear friend once took me in after a terrible breakup, and I saw firsthand how my trauma began to affect her too. It was a humbling reminder that energy transfer is real. Even when supporting or being supported, we must remain aware of how that energy exchange unfolds.

You can love yourself and those around you by bringing this awareness.

When I’m regulated, clear, and centred, I meet others with patience and openness. When I’m depleted and dysregulated, I can unintentionally pass that energy on — we all can.

So each day, I try to pause and ask myself:

• How does my body feel right now?

• How is my nervous system responding?

• What energy am I bringing into my relationships?

  
  

For me, yoga has been the bridge back to that awareness — a practice that not only protects my energy but also helps me move through life with more steadiness, compassion, and connection.

While the studio definitely fuels me with positive energy, so do my pooches. Getting home after a long day and cuddling them is self care to a T.