May Is Mental Health Month — Take 20 Minutes and Reset

As we move into May, I want to take a pause in my usual messaging and bring some attention to

a subject that has always been part of my life and in lots of way my work.

May is Mental Health Month.

I spend a lot of time talking about strength and movement and building a body that supports the

life you want to live, and that will always remain most of what I do. This month, however, in

honor of Mental Health Month, feels like the best time to speak more frankly about mental health

and wellness and the role it plays in how you feel each day.

Movement has a large part in how I think about mental wellness. It plays a huge role in how I

manage my mental health. And its not just me - I’ve learned when people begin to move more

consistently, they feel steadier and more connected to themselves. There is often a sense of

confidence that starts to build physically and mentally. I have heard people say, that often,

movement, particularly repetitive movement helps to clear brain fog or cobwebs which can

inspire great ideas to surface to top of the mind awareness further inspiring more action in their

lives.

So there are times when movement is exactly what your body is asking for and there are also

times when your body asking for something a little different.

A lot of what I believe comes down to the idea that supporting your mental health is a full-body process.

• Talking things through has a place.

• Moving your body has a place.

• Taking time to slow down has a place too.

My Story (this is the abridged version)

When I was 30, I received a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder after a particularly

challenging time with an long anxiety attack. Having a name for what I had been experiencing

brought a tremendous sense of relief. It gave me a place to begin understanding the stress, the

constant worry, the panic, and the sleepless nights that had been there since I was little human on

and off. I didn’t have a name for it when I was younger.

Now at 56, I continue to work with what supports me. As mentioned above movement plays a

key role. Mindset plays a role. Staying open to what I need in the moment plays a role.

Earlier in my 50s, I received another diagnosis—ADHD—and that added another layer of

understanding that I am also grateful for. Looking back, I can see how ADHD may have

contributed to my anxiety over the years. I had developed strong organizational skills and coping

strategies that supported me for a long time.

Until they didn’t.

As my body moved through menopausal changes, those systems began to feel less reliable, and

things that once felt manageable started to feel overwhelming.

Learning more about how hormonal changes can affect focus, mood, and stress helped me make

sense of that experience. ADHD gave me another way to understand what was happening and

another way to support myself. I now see it has one of my superpowers!

This has been an ongoing process and staying open to what I need is a part of my every day.

Where Reiki fits in

Reiki was first introduced to me at about the same time I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety

disorder.

At that point in my life, I was trying to understand what I had been feeling for so long, and I was

trying to be open to different ways of supporting myself through these feelings. Reiki became

one of the healing modalities I chose to use alongside talk therapy and medication.

Reiki is a hands-on practice that supports relaxation and helps the body feel more at ease. It

works with your body’s natural ability to restore balance.

Over time, it became another way for me to take care of myself. There were moments when

talking helped, moments when movement helped, and moments when sitting and allowing my

body to settle felt like exactly what I needed.

And eventually I was called on to get my reiki attunements.

The idea of hands on healing has always existed in everyday life. When you have a headache,

your hand moves to your forehead to rub it. When something aches, your hand moves to that area

and applies gentle pressure to massage it.

Reiki builds on that same instinct and brings a bit more focus, intention, and purpose to it.

A Brief Overview of Reiki

Reiki connects to a long history of hands-on healing that has existed in many forms over time.

The version most people experience today was developed in Japan in the early 1900s by Dr.

Mikao Usui.

As Reiki has been shared and taught across generations, many teachers have helped bring this

practice forward in accessible ways. Diane Stein, through her book Essential Reiki, played an

important role in helping many people understand and learn this practice in a way that feels very

approachable.

Her work helped place Reiki within a broader conversation about holistic care, making it feel

more connected to everyday well-being. That perspective allows people to explore Reiki in a

way that feels personal, thoughtful, and open.

Reiki continues to be shared and practiced in many ways, while staying rooted in presence,

connection, and care.

A Invitation for May in Honor of Mental Health Month

For Mental Health Month, I am offering Reiki Pop-Up Sessions at Hanu Wellness in Rhinebeck.

🗓 May 16th and May 23rd

⏰ 12–4 PM

These sessions are short and simple.

There are options to come on your own, with a partner, or as part of a small group.

You come in, sit or lie down, and give yourself a few minutes to let your body settle.

A special Mental Health Month energy exchange is available, with sessions starting at $15.

Details + How to Sign Up

📍 Hanu Wellness

6454 Montgomery Street

Rhinebeck, NY

🗓 May 16th and May 23rd

⏰ 12–4 PM

✨ 20-minute sessions

✨ Individual, partner, or small group

✨ Walk-ins welcome if space allows

👉 Learn more or reserve your spot:

Ericajoneswoolley.com

HanuRhinebeck.com

I believe taking care of mental wellness has a place in all our lives.