Break Time: Thanya Iyer
Break Time is a feature on TGE that explores how those in the music industry practice self-care. For this edition, we’re excited to welcome Thanya Iyer. She’ll release her new album, Kind, out July 31 through Topshelf Reecords.
photo by Sophie Grouev
How do you practice self-care, and what do you consider to be self-care?
Self-care to me is slowness. Moving slower and being easy on yourself. I’ve been trying to set up my mornings with an intention to set the stage for the rest of the day. I spend about 2 hours with meditation, some form of exercise, free writing and some space for affirmations and visualization, reading and trying to write some sort of song whether it’s a short line or a whole tune. And sometimes I spend a longer or shorter time on each activity, but the point is just incorporating some of these things that I love into my day before the busy-ness sets in. Right now, I’m working on how to upkeep these things and keep it consistent when my mind is still racing and in other places - I’ve found that even doing really short versions of everything feels good. Also baths. Baths are nice. Lots of baths going on here.
When you are taking that time for yourself, how do you truly enjoy it and soak that moment in? Do you turn off your phone or step away from electronics?
I love waking up early (it doesn’t happen all the time) - but there is this beauty, quiet and peace in the morning that is so special. I realized halfway into the quarantine that I was getting all these headaches and its because I was on my phone too much. I do use it for a lot of things - a good yoga vid - a guided meditation - voice memos for recording song ideas - but I've been trying to do a part of my morning routine without the phone… which is hard. Actually this question is inspiring me to literally turn off my phone right now. I’ll do that.
Why do you think it’s beneficial to take the time for self-care? And why do you practice it?
Definitely beneficial. I get that sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do - but I’ve found a morning routine really sets my day up right. I never really had a strong one and it was inspired by my bandmates - Pompey and Daniel - every morning of tour they just do their morning routine - Pompey meditates, does yoga, and eats breakfast while Daniel drinks like 2 liters of green tea and plays his guitar. (Does fun vocal exercises and sings sweet songs). I was always fascinated by their consistency and I realized that it kept them stable and happy and hopeful and strong throughout the rest of the day and I love that!
What advice would you give on someone finding a self-care practice that works for them?
Everyone has different things that work for them. I really love giving advice but I’m also learning that no one needs my advice - for myself - I’ve had tough experiences trusting myself and the decisions that I make (is it good? Is this the right path? Am I doing it right) and it even went as far as when I was meditating - was I doing it right? But lately I’ve been trying to be okay with all of those flaws and that its okay to keep things loose. Okay well - I guess if I waaaas going to give some advice it would be - what gives you joy? And what materials or things do you need to help you fulfill that goal or make the practice consistent (is it setting up your space? Is it a friend to keep you accountable? Or an app to help you get started??) Something like that! And also the third week is the hardest in building consistency and if you push through that - you’ve made it!
How have you been managing, if you are, to take time for self-care during this year? And do you feel yourself turning towards it more?
The quarantine isolation period was a wake up call for me. I had spent the first two months of the year teaching and songwriting with some really amazing students in Northern BC and then got home for a day and headed on what was going to be a really fun 5 - week SXSW tour. Half way in we decided to turn back when we found out the festival was canceled and the day after we got home the government announced the beginning of social distancing measures. I was okay with it at first and was happy to take some time off but it was a struggle since my brain is constantly moving and planning the next things. I realized that if it weren’t for the quarantine - I might (would) have burnt out this year! We would have done an album launch in May - toured across the country in June and July and Europe in the fall and it was just a lot. I think I felt somehow so in a rush (and also excited to do all these things) but now I’m realizing that also sometimes a career in music makes you feel like you have to go hard 100% of the time for various reasons. I definitely will go on all those tours when the time comes but I think I’ll space it out a bit more and not put so much pressure on myself to keep it churning! And I’ve had ups and downs in the past couple months but its helped me to come to this realization that there is time for everything, there is value in taking it slow, and the beauty that comes with it!