Dont ignore stress

[David]

Stress generally causes wear and tear in our bodies. Change is what life is all about and we cope with it. It affects us physically and emotionally. For some of us, stress is like adrenalin that triggers positive action – it is like a stimulant. But if we let it affect us negatively, it can bring on a whole slew of health problems like headaches, upset stomachs, stroke, hypertension, cardiac problems, sleeplessness, ulcers – you name it, you can get it through stress. We experience stress all the time in our lives – so it really depends on how we react to it. We can let it help us or irritate us. It is not impossible to get rid of stress. We should learn to manage it and make it work for us. Different individuals need varying levels of stress to keep them going, in the positive sense. What may look sad for one may be an encouragement to be better for the other. So the point is, we must not ignore stress.

[Susan]

I was talking to a health professional the other day and apparently stress is one of the most common problems today faced by every one in varying degrees. Although there are several ways to reduce stress – depending on which stage you are in, first you have to recognize that you are experiencing stress. Some ways that easily help in terms of health as well as stress reduction are practicing yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, breathing exercises, listening to music, etc. Drugs are sometimes prescribed but side effects are a little scary to contemplate. You don’t want to start treating one problem and end up with another in the process! I’d like to know a little more about Yoga in terms of how it can relieve stress. It’s hard to believe that a few physical poses can actually help with a health problem. Also, is it necessary to attend a class or can one practice on one’s own?

[Jeff]

Yoga is a lot more than just ‘poses’ and you can certainly practice on your own. But it’s better to begin learning with a class to know the right way to do the various ‘asanas’ as the poses are called. They teach you the correct breathing techniques. Also, learning in a group is more fun than doing it all by yourself.

Yoga is an ancient Indian concept that relaxes the body and mind. In Yoga, you are taught deep breathing exercises, while assuming certain postures or asanas and Mudras or hand postures. It then involves meditation that leads to relaxation and stress relief. There are several asanas in Yoga, but a few are very popular and easy to do. Because of the correct posture and breathing, your body is ready to meditate which is what leads your mind to relaxation.