Today is part of Mental Illness Awareness Week in the US and this is a special bonus episode.
What is it like experiencing the world with neurodivergent traits? And what does it mean to be neurodivergent?
In scientific terms, neurodivergence describes people whose brains function differently than is considered typical. This could include Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, many other types of neurodivergence, as well as chronic mental health illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Managing life with neurodivergent traits can be quite challenging and many people find unique ways to adapt and thrive. Highlighting neurodiversity is an important part of the mental health conversation and today we find out from Janie, how she navigates life and helps others along the way.
Janie Keiller
In 2011, Janie started yoga for depression and bereavement. Over the years, she became curious about other spiritual development and meditation classes and started her own groups and classes. In 2019 she qualified as a teacher of multi-style yoga, Ayurvedic and holistic massage therapies and treatments, working in a health spa, her own private practice, and was looking for expansion.
Janie experienced burnout in 2020 and decided to make some major changes in response. She took on a new job as a P.A. for disabilities, autism and ADHD and began her own journey through mental and physical ill health. Her pain, fatigue, low self-esteem, and paralyzing social anxiety led her to investigate her own neurodivergent traits.
Janie has created a strong foundation for her life so she is more in control of how she feels and interacts with the world. She believes in managing what she is in control of and mitigating the rest. The power is in the routine, and being more proactive and less reactive. Yoga has been with Janie for this entire journey and there is so much more of it to explore going forward.
She is here to help highly sensitive people find space from overwhelm and sensory overload, so they can create their own source of energy and peace within themselves, by holding a sacred space to facilitate their healing and growth, and providing resources to help and manage.
Janie’s Facebook Group is a sanctuary for highly sensitive people and anyone who identifies with being an empath, introverted, or neurodivergent, to pick up resources, learn techniques and be heard and seen no matter what they’re going through.
She offers a free course about how to use Yoga and Ayurveda in a daily routine to balance and manage energy. And she offers reading sessions based around lunar astrology that help tune into the moon’s cycles and flow with your internal energy so you can avoid burnout and overload.
Janie's Resources
The Jōrni Resources
https://thejornipodcast.com for show notes
https://thejorniblog.com for more holistic healing and mental health resources
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