In my last several posts (part 1, part 2 & part 3), I opened up about my struggle with adrenal exhaustion (aka adrenal fatigue): the symptoms, potential causes, and how I healed from it. I tried a LOT of different remedies on my road to recovery, but there was one thing that made the biggest impact, which is what I want to talk about today. If I knew then what I know now, I believe I could have avoided a lot of unnecessary suffering and frustration.
So if you think you suffer from any symptoms of adrenal fatigue (of which there are many), this post is for you.
Growing up, I was always involved in lots of different extracurricular activities (Girl Scouts, swim team, competitive baton twirling, dance, poms, playing the flute, etc.) and was always top of my class academically. My schedule only got more busy as I got older. When I got to high school, I added more sports, extracurriculars, and started working. It wasn’t until I quit teaching in 2010 that I experienced what free time felt like.
And that probably explains why I ended up with a condition that has the word “fatigue” and “exhaustion” in it.
I gave you a whole host of examples of things I tried when recovering from adrenal fatigue. But I attribute one of the main factors of my healing to working with my friend Lorna. Lorna owned The Dailey Method when I first started going there for barre and Restorative Yoga classes. When she sold the studio, she thankfully continued teaching classes and I continued reaping the benefits from just being in her presence.
But beyond mere presence and yoga, Lorna gave me something that was a total game changer: she introduced me to a kind of meditation practice that I had never experienced in my life.
I had tried Headspace and the Calm app but nothing could compare to the way I felt after a guided meditation class with Lorna.
Lorna helped me in ways I didn’t realize I needed help. She created a calm, stress-free environment that, by comparison, made me realize how I had been beyond anxious for decades. You may have heard others talk about creating tranquil mental space through meditation—how it settles a disquieted mind and carves out calm in moments of chaos. I never would have understood these kinds of experiences if it weren’t for Lorna guiding me to them firsthand.
In the thick of my adrenal fatigue, I was doing everything I could to survive. But despite my best efforts, I felt like I was drowning, every day. As I’ve mentioned before, I thought I was going crazy. I had no idea how to resolve what was going on in my body and in my mind.
It wasn’t until I started going to Lorna’s meditation class at Dailey Method that I realized that, up until then, I had never felt deeply calm in my entire life.
That’s right. It wasn’t until the age of 34, in a guided meditation with Lorna, that I was able to experience true peace, calm, and tranquility. The feelings were revelatory and transformative.
Between supplementation with Dr. Reynes and meditation with Lorna, I was able to heal my adrenal exhaustion. And, once I was on the other side of things looking back in, I had an idea.
I wanted to share Lorna’s meditation with others who, like me, could benefit from the practice when it felt like nothing else would.
So I brought the idea of creating a meditation course to Lorna and she was on board!
Inspired by the thought of helping others heal the way I did, Lorna and I started working together.
Here’s what we came up with and how we went about it.
I’ve talked about the importance of your local library before, having spent 10 years working in one myself. Beyond books, music, kitchen equipment, and board games, my local library also has a recording studio and all the equipment available that goes with it.
With that in mind, I scheduled some studio time to record Lorna’s guided meditation. When that was set, I worked with my friend Jake, who composed and produced the musical score for each day’s meditation.
The result? An immersive replication of the exact same guided meditations I was led through while healing my adrenal exhaustion, available for anyone, not just those who live in my home town. This program we have affectionately named Week of Zen.
Let me tell you a little more about the course.
Week of Zen is a meditation course meant to help you begin a regular meditation practice. The guided meditations provided through Week of Zen are based on the technique that helped me recover from my adrenal fatigue. Whether you’re an experienced meditator or brand new to starting your practice, we lead you through seven days of guided meditation to help you begin or advance your practice.
If you’re like me, the following barriers often present themselves when trying to meditate:
- You don’t have time.
- You can’t stop your brain from chattering.
- You can’t sit still.
- You hate silence.
- You don’t know how to begin.
- You think since you don’t live on a mountain top it’s not for you.
With other apps and instructional videos, I never felt like I could get into the groove of meditating: either with good effect or consistency.
But with the method and guidance provided by Lorna in Week of Zen, I was able to finally get a handle on it—and without struggle. The more I practiced with Lorna, the less time it took for me to ease into my practice.
Here are some reasons I think the practice contained in Week of Zen worked well for me.
The mindfulness practice used throughout Week of Zen offers:
- Straightforward guidance so you can develop a healthy meditation practice without strenuous effort.
- Short, simple, and accessible direction. Week of Zen is structured intuitively, so even if you’re having trouble concentrating or strapped for time, you’ll still be able to continue your practice.
- Practical suggestions. Not everyone meditates the same way. Week of Zen offers multiple suggestions on how to make your practice work best for you.
Like I mentioned, I’ve tried a million things out there, including traditional meditation apps, to reduce stress and reclaim my sense of wellbeing after enduring adrenal fatigue. But it wasn’t until I met Lorna and started following her method that I started achieving real progress. Maybe you’re similar to me. Maybe you can identify with my struggles, including suffering from symptoms like:
- Anxiety
- Burnout/exhaustion
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Brain fog
- Depression
- Inability to make decisions
- Panic attacks
- And more.
If so, Week of Zen helped me, and I hope it can help you, too.
If you’re interested in giving it a go, you can learn more by visiting https://weekofzen.com
My struggles with adrenal fatigue seemed insurmountable, but they weren’t. I feel more and more like myself every day, and I’m finally looking forward to completing the projects I have on the horizon.
Thanks for reading, everyone. With my head on straight and a firm meditative practice in place, I look forward to sharing more again soon!
As always, if you have any questions feel free to reach out.
Marla :)
