Fumiko Takatsu looking outside through the window while holding a cup of coffee.

SOLACE IN SOLITUDE – A Face Yogi’s Guide To Thrive Through Uncertainty

As I type this blog in my home office, I hear my daughter and husband playing in the background. We are at the beginning of our first week without school, and doing our best to stay occupied and engaged to help maximize this precious time we have together. While working from home has been my routine for over 15 years, I know that this situation is anything but normal and is a stressful, uncomfortable, and unusual period for the majority of the world. 


This is a challenging time globally, and it’s impossible not to feel the low-hum of anxiety that the world is feeling right now. We have been asked to accept a situation that makes us feel out of control, but I’m here to reassure you that the reality of this moment is that we can be more powerful and stronger than ever. 

For years I’ve been preparing you to embrace a love for yourself, so that you have the one tool you need to overcome any obstacle: yourself. Now it’s time to utilize that training! Without question, the quarantines, self-isolation, and social distancing we are experiencing here as a testament to the importance of our self-love and of our compassion. I know that there is a lot of pressure, anxiety, and illness all around us, I am not naive to that, but if we hold true to our practice I see a brighter future for us that only could have come from a challenge like this.  

Let us use this time to create sanctuary, to uncover parts of ourselves we didn’t realize were there, and to connect with others on a whole new level. For the first time in our history, we are all equalized by this virus. 

You, my Face Yogi Community, mean the world to me. It’s my privilege to be here as not just a light in the world, but as a lighthouse. I hope that my suggestions below help you through this challenging time and guide you through each day. I truly believe that this brief interruption of normal life will unite us as a community. Because we are better, together.  

Right now, we have a choice. This is an adventure that’s been handed to us. As we move through each day, we can choose to act out of love or out of fear. 

Here is what acting out of love and compassion for ourselves looks like:

WATCH WHAT YOU WATCH 

What we take in is not limited to our nutrition. Now more than ever, it’s important to do our best to nourish our bodies with wholesome foods and what gives our cells the ability to thrive. But we also must pay attention to what we are taking in mentally, too. 

It’s all too easy to be consumed by the media and the global-anxiety through our electronic devices. Just like you, I know first-hand that it’s literally impossible to turn on my phone, open my email, or even make a phone call without seeing something about COVID-19 and the uncertainty that surrounds it. So in order to cut down on the negative and anxiety-fueling content, we must create inner peace and protect our positive mindset by limiting intake on these platforms.  

Detox yourself, digitally. 

Yes, it’s very important to stay informed, but at this point you can safely set “digital detox” periods throughout your day. Start with 20 minute blocks of time, and see if you can work up to a couple of hours. Put away your phone, and instead get lost in the moment. 

  • Sit in silence as you focus on your breath and check in with your experience and the emotions you feel. Scan your entire body as you check in with each part. 
  • Break open your favorite (or a new) book! 
  • If you can, go outside and look for 3 things you’ve never noticed before. If you do, visually search your environment for beauty and life. It’s all around us! 
  • Put on a DIY face mask! (This is a great way to avoid touching your face too.)

Wherever you are, close your eyes and take a few nice deep breaths through your nose. Breathing through your nose is SO beneficial for your health and body, and releases nitric oxide which increases circulation and can aid in relaxation.   

When the time comes to check your phone, be mindful and be sure you’re protecting your mental wellbeing. As always, we will continue to nurture our amazing Community of Face Yogis and provide a safe-place for people worldwide to come and support each other. This virtual platform has naturally evolved into one of the most special places in the world! 

We will continue to inspire your self-care, encourage you on your Face Yoga Journey through sharing tips and content to help get you through this, and any challenging time. Because when you make yourself a priority, you can overcome anything. 

A woman with arms reaching towards the sky, eyes closed and legs crossed  doing yoga outdoors.

YOUR ROUTINE IS KEY 

It started last week, when we had to make the tough decision with our daughter Nina to cancel her 10th birthday party, for her protection and for the families we invited. Nina took the news better than I had expected, and we will still celebrate at home in our own extra-special way. 

When they closed schools in California as a preventative measure and to help “flatten the curve” I knew it was important to make a longer-term game plan. I sat down with my family and together we talked about what would help us feel most in control and stress-free throughout the day. We decided as a family, that it was best for us to keep a routine and keep things as normal as possible. 

This meant that our morning routine would look the same, the meals we ate would be foods we enjoy, and although Nina is home and not at school, that we would still try to resemble a school day as best we could during the week. (Try This Face Yoga Song For Kids! I made this simple routine with a song when Nina was young. I always sang this with face poses and worked like magic.) 

Today, self-care for me was putting on a little makeup and wearing my favorite yoga pants. I wanted to look and feel my best, because I knew that if I felt this way, it would manifest physically too. You may be home from work (or working from home) but maybe getting dressed up feels right, or maybe you’re thrilled that you can wear your pajamas all day! Do what makes you feel best! 

Stay Positive.

We have a lot of spare time right now, and unfortunately, our mind is not programmed to accept that gracefully. On an average day we have 12,000-60,000 thoughts per day and 80% of those thoughts are negative. You know my firm belief that our thoughts hold so much power over our lives and why that makes it so important to stay as conscious and aware of our thoughts as we can. One of the best routines we can work on right now, is the practice of positive thoughts. And the most traditional and proven form of this is through breath and body poses – yoga! 

The Instant Pick Me Up pose combines physical touch, with positive thought to really embed the positive mantras you speak, through your entire body. 

This pose gets your lymphatic system flowing, flushing your system of free-radicals and jumpstarting your body’s natural ability to heal itself. 

So go ahead, tell yourself how amazing, healthy, and powerful you are and stimulate your healing with The Instant Pick Me Up*: 

*Before practicing Face Yoga, you should always wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water.

Some suggested mantras and power phrases you can say as you do this pose are: 

  • I have everything I need. 
  • I am grateful for my health. 
  • I am so happy to be here at this moment. 
  • I love myself. I love my body. I love my life. 
  • I am supported.

TAKE THIS TIME FOR YOUR SELF DEVELOPMENT 

We are being asked to get used to something we aren’t comfortable with – being self sustainable. But more often than not, a little discomfort and push is what we need to go after our dreams and reach our fullest potential.

You’d be missing out on an incredible opportunity if you don’t utilize this unique time for self development. There are countless ways you can work on yourself and transform this solitude into solace. 

  • Work on your journaling. 
  • Pick up a new hobby, like singing. 
  • Try meditation or yoga. 
  • Plant seeds in your garden, or inside on the window sill.
  • Learn a new trade or skill.  

This is a great time to think of how you can become more self-sufficient. I’m so amazed and optimistic to see how many entrepreneurs and businesses are taking to a digital platform and offering their services in a whole new way. My own Face Yoga Teacher Certification Course graduates are using this time to work on their websites, and start up their new business. There has never been a better opportunity to work on improving your skill set! 

I have little doubt that this unprecedented time will change the way we work and do business, worldwide. No one knows exactly what this will look like yet, but the hard truth is that some businesses are going to thrive in this time, and others are going to struggle or even fail. You need to think about what makes you invaluable – what’s your passion? 

Your passion is unique. In retrospect, my passion for empowering women through teaching, my decades of yoga practice, and my curiosity with holistic healing all generated what I’m most passionate about: Teaching you to love yourself and embrace your age with Face Yoga! 

How can you foster your passion right now? I love to create vision boards or journal my dreams and goals. Not only do I think this helps them come true, they are so fun to look back on! 

This is also a fantastic opportunity to stay connected with dear ones. Call your family members, especially the elderly, and check in with that friend you haven’t talked to in ‘forever’. A simple call can go a long way and will help maintain your human connection and community. 

As a final note, I want to thank you for showing up for yourself each and every day. 

Thank you for being open to a new idea, for being part of this Pro-Age Revolution, and for being a Face Yogi. Remember, your self-care will allow you to care better for others. 

Let’s get through this together, in our own little corner of the internet, and show the world what it means to be a Face Yogi!! 

Here for you each and every day, 
Fumiko & The Face Yoga Method Team 


To stay connected, and for more self-care, Face Yoga, and Pro-Aging tips, be sure to follow us on: 
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More FREE Face Yoga Content Can Be Found HERE
To Start Your Home Face Yoga Practice CLICK HERE

Face Yoga Method Team

5 thoughts on “SOLACE IN SOLITUDE – A Face Yogi’s Guide To Thrive Through Uncertainty”

    1. Hi Tsehay! If you are ready to start your Face Yoga Method journey check our Courses page for a Program that’s right for you! 🙂

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