A Woman's Awakening, by Julie Hruska
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by life? Do you feel like there’s too many things to do and not enough time to do it all? Or have you ever reached a point where you feel so exhausted, you kind of check out, like you're sleepwalking through life, just going through the motions? We do what we have to do, until one day, we realize that so much time has passed by. It happens unintentionally, as we face the challenges of daily life. It happened to me.
I got married at 20, became an elementary school teacher and began having children at 24. While pregnant, my son was diagnosed with bilateral clubfeet. From Ethan’s first day of life, he encountered difficulties, from health issues to speech issues to ADHD, anxiety and dyslexia. As his father immersed himself in work, Ethan and my journey became a series of challenges and working to overcome each challenge. And as I faced unforeseen difficulties, my stress levels surged. When Ethan was in preschool, getting in trouble daily for behavioral issues, I began having debilitating panic attacks. I felt like there was so much pressure on me to handle all his issues, while raising another child, and holding a leadership position in a non-profit organization. I couldn’t do it all anymore. The doctors diagnosed me with depression and anxiety, medicated me and told me that I needed to take better care of myself. I’d become so good at taking care of everyone else, I had let my health go. My anxiety had taken over, and as I laid in my bathtub one night, a frail 87 pound woman with hip bones and ribs jutting out, I knew something had to change.
My doctor suggested I place my youngest in preschool a few hours a week to take time for myself. “Time for myself,” I thought. “What does that even look like?” I’d lost myself, not knowing what I would even do without a child by my side. My doctor suggested yoga, as a way to find a sense of calm and to take care of my fragile health. And it did, I got my life back on track and things began to work again. Then I had my third child, began my master’s program and still was helping Ethan work through his academic and behavioral challenges. My stress levels skyrocketed; yet, I refused to spend another year checked out on anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication. I knew that this time, I had to make real, lasting changes. My journey to find peace, revealed I’d truly lost my identity and love for myself.
Over the next few years, I began to recreate my life the way I needed to survive. As I changed, my husband did not. The stress of parenting a child with special needs coupled with financial challenges and my ever-evolving spirit was too much for my relationship. It became an emotionally toxic situation that was detrimental me and my children. We went through a painful and financially devastating divorce. As a result, I took primary custody of my three children and took on the new challenges of being a single mother.
Teaching Kindergarten, while trying to manage my three children and their busy lives, was crazy. There just weren’t enough hours in my day. One day, sitting in my classroom, completing state mandated forms around dinner time, while my youngest son sat on floor waiting for me, I realized life was not working. Something had to change. At this time, I’d began yoga teacher training. Through all my struggles, I realized there was one theme present throughout, the feeling of disempowerment. When I discovered power yoga, I felt instantly connected to the powerful themes and was led to teach yoga with a desire to empower my students. I gave up my salaried position to teach yoga. Yoga had changed my life and I knew how beneficial it could be for others, so I embarked on my current journey to awaken, empower and inspire others to be the best version of themselves.
Does any of this resonate with you? It happens to the best of us. Weeks, became months, and months become years, going through the motions, handling the immediate needs of each day, without a bigger vision for your life. Women have so many facets to their character and take on a lot of responsibilities. Throughout their relationships, career, parenting, and other roles, women often lose parts of their identity, surrendering their lives to the needs of others. These incredible women focus so much on helping others that they forget to take care and nurture themselves. Many of us fall into a stagnate role of going through the motions each day, sleepwalking through life.
The theme of my upcoming retreat “Awaken Your Inner Goddess” is about empowering women to awaken or reawaken their divine feminine energy and to encourage women to realize how amazing they truly are. A goddess is “a woman who is in the process of learning to know, accept and love herself on all levels: mind, body, spirit. A woman who, because she focuses on personal growth and self-awareness, experiences a life increasingly filled with peace, love, joy, passion and fun. A woman who understands she has an unlimited capacity to make her life anything she wants. A woman who is inspired to give to those around her because of her own sense of gratitude and abundance.” ~unknown.To me, a goddess is just this, not an unattainable statue but an authentic woman in touch with herself.
At this transformational retreat, we will break away from the monotony of daily life. I will help you awaken to the present moment, tapping into your unique beauty and powerful spirit. By the end of the retreat, you will leave with renewed vitality and confidence that enables you to live joyously in the present moment, creating the life you were meant to live!