The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
272: Mental Health for Entrepreneurs with Shulamit Ber Levtov
Description:
Building a yoga business and being an entrepreneur in general can be stressful and it can take a toll on our mental health. Despite the benefits of being able to set our own schedules and having more flexibility, many entrepreneurs deal with feelings of anxiety and isolation - things not often talked about. Shulamit Ber Levtov (she/her) is an expert in this area and shares more about mental health for entrepreneurs in this podcast.
Shulamit is the Entrepreneur’s Therapist and co-founder of the Business Therapy Centre. She helps women-identified entrepreneurs uplift their mindset and pilot their emotions so they can overcome the anxiety and isolation of running a business, using both coaching and therapeutic tools. With over 27 years experience as an entrepreneur and more than 20 years of professional experience supporting women's mental health and personal growth, Shulamit is an expert at helping entrepreneurs with this. As a licensed trauma therapist, retired Yoga teacher, trauma survivor and award-winning entrepreneur, Shulamit brings a unique perspective and approach to supporting women in business.
In this interview, Shulamit talks about the importance of truth-telling around stress, trauma and mental health. She also shares why we are stronger with support, where to find that support, and how yoga and meditation can amplify (but not replace) therapy. Shulamit also explains why some advice we may commonly hear (like "relax" or "take a breath") may not be helpful for some, especially trauma survivors, and why having structures can be helpful for our nervous system instead.
This is a great episode for any entrepreneur and for humans dealing with the stresses of navigating life in general.
Key Takeaways:
[2:49] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Shulamit Ber Levtov.
[7:06] What does Shulamit do and who does she do it for?
[7:53] Anxiety and isolation are common feelings entrepreneurs may have to deal with. Shulamit explains why talking about these experiences truthfully is helpful.
[11:33] How much should we normalize sharing about mental health and sharing the personal aspects of ourselves?
[16:01] Shulamit explains more about the nuances about sharing about the process and transition vs the details of an incident or difficult moment.
[16:57] It can feel really tough to ask for or seek out professional help like therapy. Remember - we are stronger with support!
[22:11] There is a myth that if you're doing yoga properly, you won't need therapy. What are Shulamit's thoughts on that?
[23:56] What other things does Shulamit wish that entrepreneurs and yoga teachers knew about caring for their mental health when they're struggling?
[29:47] Shannon pops in to share a bit of news about a new OfferingTree update.
[32:44] What is Shulamit's recommendation when we are dealing with moments of anxiety?
[38:49] Shulamit highlights the fact that taking a deep breath may actually cause more anxiety in trauma survivors.
[43:00] Structure helps the nervous system. It helps us trust and when we can trust, then we can relax.
[43:16] Shulamit reminds us that being an entrepreneur is hard and there's nothing wrong with you if you feel isolated and anxious.
[44:24] Find out more about Shulamit and her work via her website and Instagram.
[46:16] Shannon reflects on her conversation with Shulamit.
[48:40] Shannon gives an update on Yoga Teacher Conf that she attended recently.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.
Quotes from this episode:
"I think truth telling is really important, especially around mental health because of the stigma that's associated."
"We are stronger with support."
"It's also important to bring in discernment around what kind of support and where do I ask."
"The antidote to isolation is to find a wide variety of different kinds of support and to use your discernment around what support is best for when."
"Structure helps the nervous system. It helps us trust and when we can trust, then we can relax."