Not only does stress weigh a person down mentally, it can also weigh one down physically by contributing to bad, stimulated eating habits. People under high levels of stress tend to turn to food for comfort, and that comforting food is typically filled with sugar which heads straight to the hips.
The majority of the working population is stuck at a desk a minimum of eight hours a day, which allows minimal time for burning off the extra sugar in take (hence, larger hips, butts and thighs). Not only does weight gain affect one’s health and lifestyle, but stress can increase irritability leaving other areas of one’s life in jeopardy (family, friends etc.).
What if it were possible to take one hour each day that would minimize or even remove the stress from one’s daily life? It is.
Everyone has heard that yoga reduces stress, but how is it possible to tackle the many daily stress contributors (work, family, friends, bills, health and on and on) within just one hour each day?
This is certainly possible through strategic breath flow, mind clarity, releasing muscle tension, promoting balance within the mind and body, promoting a new perspective and feeling of accomplishment (not to mention the release of positive endorphins). Yoga incorporates all the preceding within just an hour daily.
Breath Flow:
Most all yoga classes begin with breath concentration. There are a few reasons for this. Focusing on one’s breath helps bring the mind focus to the body rather than outside stressors such as work and bills. Although there are many different styles of yoga breath depending on the practice, Yoga typically focuses on a deep, concentrated breath.
The inhale comes slowly in through the nose, and is released just as slowly either through the nose or pierced lips. Participants typically count each inhale and exhale for six seconds each to be sure they are breathing slowly and deeply. The idea is to bring the air flow into the lungs then throughout the rest of the body.
This naturally releases tension on the exhale.
Mind Clarity:
This is clearing one’s mind of all other outside factors that may be contributing to one’s stress. Often times a person may be stresses without knowing the real cause or reason. Focusing on one’s body and individual yoga practice for an hour helps one forget about everything else that has been crammed into the mind throughout the day.
Some things are not worth focusing our daily energy on, and clearing the mind of everything that has happened throughout the day helps us prepare mentally for the following day, or the time spent with family and friends.
Releasing Muscle Tension:
It is very common to hold tension in the neck and shoulders when under increased stress. This tension can actually make one feel more stressed, and is simply uncomfortable. It may lead to increased headaches, and the inability to effectively deal with new stressors that some one’s way.
Yoga poses are designed to help loosen the head, neck and shoulders releasing this tension and tightness. When stretching the muscles safely and effectively, tension melts away from the body leaving one feel loose, relaxed and often carefree.
Promoting Balance:
Taking an hour for one’s own self daily to focus only on one’s mind, body and self contributes greatly to self awareness. A person may be going about their daily lives flawlessly until one day they just have a mental break down out of nowhere. This does not mean they are crazy.
This means they have been so busy fulfilling responsibilities to everyone else, and worrying about what the other people in their life needs that they neglected themselves, they forgot to listen to what their mind and body needs. This is extremely common in today’s increasingly busy society. A yoga class allows the time for one to listen to their bodies needs, they will feel where their body holds stress and tightness through moving throughout the many poses within the class.
They will have time to allow the mind to connect with the body creating balance within the soul. This may sound somewhat deep to a new yoga participant, but it happens naturally and without thought.
New Perspective/ Feeling Accomplished:
Once leaving a yoga class, the mind should be clear (almost free of thoughts). One thing that might have bothered a participant prior to class might not seem like such a big deal any longer. The ability to take on more, and tackle the world seems more attainable. One is refreshed, and simply put happy. Not only have they cleared their mind, but they have done something healthy for their mind and body, so they feel accomplished.
It’s going to be a good day.
