| .. It's a fact of life; there's really no getting around | | | | pressure, and relaxing your muscles. |
| it. How you manage the stress though can mean | | | | Yoga is an excellent stress relief technique. It |
| the difference. | | | | involves a series of both moving and stationary |
| The body's natural relaxation response is a | | | | poses, combined with deep breathing. The physical |
| powerful antidote to stress. Relaxation techniques | | | | and mental benefits of yoga provide a natural |
| such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can | | | | counter-balance to stress, and strengthens the |
| help you activate this relaxation response. When | | | | relaxation response in your daily life. |
| practiced regularly, these activities lead to a | | | | Since injuries can happen when yoga is practiced |
| reduction in your everyday stress level and boost | | | | incorrectly, it's best to learn by attending group |
| your feelings of peace and calm. They also help | | | | classes or hiring a private teacher. Once you learn |
| by teaching you how to stay calm and collected | | | | the basics, you can practice alone or with others, |
| when life throws you a curveball. | | | | tailoring your practice as you see fit. |
| The stress response floods your body with | | | | Tips for starting a yoga practice: |
| chemicals that prepare you for "fight or flight." | | | | *Consider your fitness level and any medical |
| But, while this response is helpful in emergencies | | | | issues before joining a yoga class. There are |
| when you must be alert, chronic stress wears | | | | many yoga classes for different needs, Hatha |
| you down. Under sustained or severe stress, | | | | Yoga, Vinyasa or "Power" Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, |
| even the most well-adjusted person loses the | | | | "Hot" or Bikram Yoga, (practiced in a heated |
| ability to adapt. When stress overwhelms our | | | | environment, might be too much if you are just |
| coping resources, our bodies and minds suffer. | | | | starting out.) Research the different styles and |
| Science is constantly learning about the impact | | | | find one that feels like a good fit. *For stress |
| that stress has on your overall health. Recent | | | | relief, I'd recommend Hatha Yoga; especially if |
| research suggests that anywhere from 60 to 90 | | | | you're just starting out. |
| percent of illness is stress-related. The physical | | | | *Look for a low-pressure environment where you |
| wear and tear of stress includes damage to the | | | | can learn at your own pace. Don't extend yourself |
| cardiovascular system and immune system | | | | beyond what feels comfortable, and always back |
| suppression. Stress can cause a miriad of health | | | | off of a pose at the first sign of pain. Listen to |
| problems, compromising your ability to fight off | | | | your body. A good teacher can show you |
| disease and infection, throws your digestive | | | | alternate poses for ones that are too challenging |
| system off balance, makes it difficult to conceive | | | | for your fitness level. |
| a baby, and can even stunt growth in children. | | | | *Remember, Yoga is not about turning yourself |
| To counter-balance the stress response, we need | | | | into a pretzel...it's about finding your own edge and |
| to learn to activate our bodies relaxation response | | | | honoring where you are in this moment. Also, try |
| brings your system back into balance, deepening | | | | a few different classes, every teacher has their |
| your breathing, reducing stress hormones, slowing | | | | own style; if you get turned off by one, try |
| down your heart rate, lowering your blood | | | | another. |