Is It Burnout or Just Too Much Yes?

How Emotional Overload Sneaks In (and How Yoga Can Help You Cool The Fire)

Have you ever found yourself saying “yes” to one more thing - one more shift, one more task, one more person’s needs but inside you're feeling pulled in a thousand directions with a side of rage, resentment, and/or frustration?

That feeling isn’t weakness. It’s not a personality flaw. It’s emotional inflammation. Your nervous system has it's on monitor that screeching out loud, “Hey, this is getting into critical range!!"

This kind of inner chaos shows up in so many ways:

• Snapping at people when you’re normally calm

• Feeling resentful but not knowing how to speak up

• Saying “yes” when your body is screaming “no”

• Crying over small things or feeling totally numb

For many of us, especially nurses and caregivers, we were taught that strength means pushing through, staying quiet, and doing it all. But let me offer a reframe to that outdated and toxic notion:

Strength is knowing when to pause before you burn out.

What’s Yoga Got to Do with It?

When most people think of yoga, they imagine bendy poses on a mat. Yes the poses are part of it but not the way that you think. Yoga is a toolkit. It's a way of learning how to see and feel what’s happening in your body, pausing to take a breath, and then choosing what is the better next step.

This week, I want to share a few yoga therapy practices that can help you:

• Cool emotional overload

• Say “no” without guilt

• Feel more calm, clear, and capable - even when you are surrounded by chaos

What Emotional Inflammation Feels Like

Think of your emotions like a fire. Fire gives us light, energy, and motivation. What happens when it gets too hot or spreads too fast? It burns everything in its path. Including you.

You might feel:

• Overreactive: Jumping to anger or tears

• Exhausted: Even small decisions feel overwhelming

• Overcommitted: Struggling to say no, even when you know you need to

You’re not broken! You’re just burning too much fuel without rest or reset. That’s where these yoga practices can help.

3 Ways to Cool the Fire

1. Breathe with Sound (Lion’s Breath) Try this when you feel pressure building up.

• Inhale through your nose

• Exhale with a loud sigh, sticking your tongue out

• Repeat 2–3 times It might feel silly at first—but it’s a fast, proven way to release nervous system tension.

2. Twist It Out Try a standing or seated twist (in a chair or on the floor). Gentle twisting helps the body let go of stuck emotion and tension especially in the gut and chest, where stress often lives.

3. Say It to Yourself First Before you state a boundary out loud, try saying it to yourself:

“I’m allowed to protect my energy.” “No is a complete sentence.” “My needs matter too.”

This internal practice gives your nervous system a chance to feel safe before you put it into action.

You Don’t Have to Do It All

Healing from burnout doesn’t mean quitting your job or running away. It means learning how to respond instead of react. It means creating just enough space to breathe, reflect, and reset. Honestly, that is the practice of Yoga.

Even if you’ve never practiced before, this week is your chance to try something small. Start with your breath. Start with your body. Start with you. Pick one of the practices from above and notice what you feel before and after.

You don’t have to do it all. You just have to begin with one clear “yes”—and one brave “no.”