Moving abroad can be as stressful as it is exciting. Switzerland with its high standard of living and impeccable organization might at first seem a fairly easy location to get used to, but as the months go by and the initial novelty wears off newcomers often find themselves facing a rollercoaster of emotions. In the midst of the everyday annoyances of not understanding how things work, the frustration of being reduced to the communication level of a seven year old in your new language, the many cultural misunderstandings and the inevitable social faux pas, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and a little lost. Indeed, the severity of culture shock should never be underestimated.

Most of us take our support networks for granted until family, friends and colleagues are no longer physically present, so much so that we do not even realize how much support they actually give us. Meeting new people and encountering different cultures can be exhilarating but establishing those new networks does not happen overnight. Perhaps it is marriage that brought you to Switzerland in which case your spouse might not know how best to help you adjust to the new language and culture. If you are both new to the country it may also be that your partner’s time is taken up with the new role in a new office and you may feel alone in your struggle to adapt to a new life without the status and routine that a job brings with it. In any case there are as many scenarios as there are Swiss cheeses and each of them comes with their own set of joys and challenges.  

All of this can sometimes leave you mulling over your life:  past (things weren’t so bad after all) and future (where the hell am I going from here), leaving you to neglect a little the present. One of the best ways to overcome this is by reconnecting with yourself in the here and now. Contact with nature can help immensely (and Switzerland is blessed with an abundance of hiking trails to enjoy the glorious countryside). Another tried and tested (and scientifically approved) method for de-stressing and taking your mind off negative thoughts is yoga. 

In the 1930s, Switzerland’s very own Carl Jung was one of the first to study Eastern thought and the inner experience and to relate it to Western psychology. Whilst warning against the differences existing between Eastern and Western psyches and the dangers of adopting practices that have evolved in an Eastern context,  he nonetheless believed in the importance of the West studying and gaining inspiration from the East whilst pursuing its own form of yoga within a Western historical consciousness. Today, yoga schools abound in the West and the enthusiasm for yoga shows no signs of abating. Little wonder when you consider the health benefits. From improved posture and flexibility to self-awareness and relieving anxiety, yoga is a natural way to alleviate stress and fortify the immune system.