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Chronicle 3
Every two weeks, on Tuesdays, our founder Mélody Benhamou joins the show On part ça d’même, broadcast on Viva 99.9, where she talks with the host about various topics related to the world of Idolem.
In this chronicle, aired on May 12, the conversation turned to a subject that concerns us all: the importance of taking time for yourself. Through concrete examples and explanations of the effects of stress and breathing, Mélody reminds us why slowing down is sometimes the best way to move forward.
Here, we offer an adapted version of the key takeaways from this chronicle.
This is probably one of the most common phrases people say when it comes to self-care. Between work, family, responsibilities, and the frantic pace of everyday life, taking an hour for yourself can feel impossible… or even selfish.
Yet it might be one of the most important decisions you can make.
We often feel that by staying constantly busy, we’re accomplishing more. In reality, our body and mind need moments of pause to function at their full potential.
We often think of stress as a state of mind, when it actually triggers a real physical reaction in our body.
When we’re stressed, our breathing becomes shorter and faster. Our body goes into alert mode, as if it needed to react to an immediate danger. Over time, this state can become our new normal, without us even realizing it.
Conversely, when we take the time to breathe deeply, the diaphragm moves and sends a reassuring message to our nervous system: the danger has passed, a well-oiled mechanism.
This is one of the reasons why real moments of slowing down are so beneficial.
Yoga isn’t just about moving through poses. By combining movement and breath, it helps the body release built-up tension and allows the mind to slow down, an effect we explore further in this article on hot yoga and mental health.
It’s often after a class that we realize just how busy our mind had been. Thoughts become clearer, priorities fall back into place, and we find a sense of calm that’s hard to reach in the whirlwind of everyday life.
This isn’t an hour where you stop being productive. It’s an hour that gives you back the energy, focus, and presence you need to better live the rest of your day… and your week.
It’s common to feel guilty when taking time for yourself. Parents, especially mothers, often feel pressure to always put others’ needs before their own.
Yet it’s hard to be fully present for others when your own tank is empty. Taking an hour to breathe, move, and unwind doesn’t mean putting others aside. On the contrary, it means coming back with more energy, patience, and availability.
As Mélody puts it in this chronicle: it’s not stepping back, it’s stepping back to leap further forward.
You don’t need to completely overhaul your routine to feel the benefits of this approach. Just start by setting aside one hour this week: an hour to breathe, an hour to move, an hour to unwind.
This simple habit could transform the way you approach the rest of your days.
At Idolem, we believe well-being begins with these small moments we finally choose to give ourselves. Because in the end, time for yourself is never time wasted.
Book your first hour for yourself at one of our studios across Quebec.
Yoga combines movement and deep breathing, which sends a calming signal to the nervous system and helps the body come out of alert mode.
Slow, deep breathing activates the diaphragm and the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows the heart rate and creates a sense of calm.
Just set aside one hour, once a week, to move and breathe. This simple habit can have a lasting effect on your energy and stress management.