Finding relief: How I’m Learning to Manage Pain with Nutrition, Yoga, and Mindset
Living with chronic pain wasn’t something I ever expected to be part of my life story. In 2018, pain became a daily companion. At first, I fought it—I pushed harder, tried to ignore it, and thought if I just “toughed it out,” it would eventually disappear. But it didn’t. The pain grew louder, until it consumed my focus and left me feeling like a stranger in my own body.
There were days when I wondered if I’d ever feel like myself again. I felt defeated, limited, and honestly, scared about the future. But over time, I began to realize that fighting against my body wasn’t the answer. I needed to learn how to listen to it, support it, and care for it in new ways. That’s when I turned more deeply to three things: holistic nutrition, yoga, and mindset.
Nourishing My Body with Food
I started by looking at what I was putting on my plate. I had read about the connection between inflammation and pain, and I began shifting toward anti-inflammatory, whole foods. That meant more colorful vegetables, omega-3-rich foods like salmon and walnuts, and less processed sugar and refined carbs.
It wasn’t an overnight miracle, but gradually I noticed a difference—my energy improved, flare-ups became less intense, and I felt more in control. Eating this way wasn’t about restriction; it was about giving my body the support it needed to heal.
Moving with compassion through Yoga
Yoga has always been part of my life, but pain forced me to change the way I practiced. I could no longer push into poses for the sake of achievement. Instead, I had to honor my limits, explore gentler variations, and sometimes let go of postures I once loved.
Surprisingly, this shift deepened my practice. Yoga became less about performance and more about compassion. Through mindful movement, breathwork, and restorative practices, I began to ease tension, improve my mobility, and create space in my body where pain had once taken over.
Shifting My Mindset
Perhaps the biggest change came from the inside out. At first, pain made me feel broken, like something was “wrong” with me. But through journaling, meditation, and self-reflection, I began to reframe the way I saw myself.
I realized I wasn’t broken—I was learning. Pain was my teacher, guiding me to slow down, to be present, and to treat myself with more kindness. Mindset practices like gratitude journaling and breath awareness helped me build resilience and calm, even on the hardest days.
Moving Forward
Do I still experience pain? Yes. Some days are challenging. But the pain no longer defines me, and I’m not consumed by it. By nourishing my body with healing foods, moving with compassion, and tending to my mindset, I’ve found ways to manage it—and to feel strong, calm, and clear again.
If you’re living with pain, I want you to know you’re not alone. There are ways to support yourself and find relief, even when it feels impossible. Small shifts in how you eat, move, and think can make a big difference.
💛 And if you’d like a gentle place to start, I invite you to download my 7-Day Mindful Midlife Reset. It’s filled with simple practices in nutrition, movement, and mindset that have helped me—and I believe they can help you, too.
