I’ve been living in a beautiful location called the Manning Valley for the past 16 years. This last week we experienced a horrendous deluge that has changed the face of our area, possibly forever. In just time period our rainfall measured 600mm over 4 days. That is two feet of water. Taree, our closest town, received one-third of its annual rainfall in those few days.

News reports warned people to evacuate from many areas to designated centres. There were continuous emergency rescues, some by helicopter, some by private or SES boats, in the worst possible weather conditions. More than a dozen towns (including our own Mitchells Island) were cut off from food, electricity and medications. Sadly the event caused five people to die and countless livestock, too.

We were quite safe upon our elevated home site, but I couldn’t help entertaining negative fantasies in which I pictured us engulfed by the rising water levels. The ferocity of the rain was matched by its relentlessness.

I have a high empathy quotient. Right from the beginning of the flooding, and, even though I was safe, I felt deeply the suffering this event would inflict on our community. It felt like collectivised gloom and with an oppressive quality.

I wondered what, if anything, I might have in my yoga tool box that might help vanquish the agitation I was feeling. 

I opted for doing a breathing practice. One of the most powerful ways of soothing my restlessness mind is to use any of the yoga breathing techniques I’ve learned over the years. In yoga terminology, mindful, controlled breathing is called pranayama. The first part of that Sanskrit word, ‘prana’, translates to vital energy or life force. I believe I experience energy, or the lack of it, in Nature, in people and in myself. I wanted to charge my batteries with a top-up of good energy. Pranayama is meant to be a tool for creating balanced energy, equilibrium in body, mind, emotions and spirit.

I’ve been very fortunate in having access to the collection of classes that Carole Baillargeon presents in Darwin Yoga Space on Demand, in particular her pranayama classes. Carole’s style of teaching these classes is practical and ineffable at the same time. I know that in the process of being led by Carole in these 45 minute videos, I can go from being mentally/emotionally anxious or disturbed to calm clarity. I think I’m a good connoisseur of teachers, and Carole is one of the best.

In the midst of this flooding disaster and catastrophic disruption of lives, I’ve been blessed to have a tool box of resources that I’ve built up since 1971. At this stage of elderhood, I’m grateful to have resources, not only for fostering physical well-being, but ones that will nourish me and and encourage self-care. I started my yoga journey serendipitously early in life, but I firmly believe it’s never too late. Even if yoga for you is not necessarily doing physical postures. My friend and colleague, Simon Borg-Olivier, says: if you can breathe you can do yoga.