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Ashley Darby Reveals How Yoga Helped Her Heal from Sexual Abuse Trauma
The pregnant Real Housewives of Potomac wellness expert shared her methods for healing from the inside, out.
It's no secret that Ashley Darby is devoted to her yoga practice. The Real Housewives of Potomac pal is not only a certified yoga instructor with her own line of yoga gear; she also advocates for a lifestyle rooted in balance and wellness. But it wasn't until Ashley hosted a Sacral Chakra Chat on Instagram Live that we understood how deep her passion for healing runs.
In the video, the pregnant 'Wife opened up about her past experiences with sexual abuse. As Ashley revealed, she has worked long and hard to heal her inner wounds and examine behavior that had stemmed from her trauma. Today, the mother-to-be uses healing practices for both body and mind to stay centered, and she shared some of those techniques with her followers.
After providing an overview of the seven chakras that correspond to different body parts, Ashley shared that sexual trauma can create a blockage in the sacral chakra, which houses the sexual organs. When that particular chakra is imbalanced, she explained, people can experience symptoms such as guilt, shame, depression, jealousy or a lack of creativity. Here's how Ashley copes when she feels that "something is amiss:"
"The first thing that I was really focused on was awareness," she said, describing a time when she felt that old patterns of obsession and fear had resurfaced. "I had to take a step back and think: Why am I acting this way? Why am I clinging to these negative emotions?" After realizing that it all led back to the trauma she'd experienced in her past, Ashley leaned on meditation.
"Meditation and being alone with my thoughts really helped me to reconnect with what was going on inside of my body," she shared, adding that guided meditations can be a great place to start for people who find meditation intimidating.
"I also believe in the power of words and manifestations," Ashley continued. "What we believe and what we tell ourselves is what actually comes. It's what we put energy into, it's what blossoms and blooms." She then shared some of the affirmations that she uses on a day-to-day basis, including: "I embrace inner passion," "I value and respect my body," and "I release my inner emotions creatively."
"And, the most important thing that I've been using, and that I will continue to champion, is yoga," Ashley said. "Yoga is an incredible way to use your breath, to form and create a connection between your mind and your body. Yoga is not about handstands and backflips ... Physical poses are a form of meditation, but it's also good connecting your mind to your body, and being present with yourself."
Finally, the wellness advocate shared a few poses that she uses to assist with blockages in her sacral chakra. She demonstrated (as best she could while protecting her baby bump) the cobra pose, the butterfly pose, camel pose, goddess pose, and finally, pigeon pose.
We are touched by Ashely's willingness to be vulnerable in order to help her followers, and we admire her commitment to self-improvement. We're also thankful for these wellness tips, which we think are beneficial to anyone, regardless of past experiences.
As Ashley said to end her demo: "There's so much power in believing in ourselves and in learning how to heal ourselves and in learning to hear the inner voice."
