How a mindful practice can help you in stressful times…
“There cannot be a stressful crisis next week. My schedule is already full.” – Henry Kissinger
We’re ALL stressed. It’s an epidemic. One statistics shows that stress affects most of us. The APA showed 75% of a studies participants reporting experiencing stress in a month’s time. And a similar poll from the same group stated that 1/5 people considers their mental health to be in decline from the prior year.
And isn’t is true that as soon as one stressor is resolved, another shows up to offer more reasons for us to stress. Like a never-ending game of whack a mole. So, what do we do? And what does yoga have to say about our constant stress levels?
We’ve heard so many times that a yoga and/or meditation practice can be beneficial and soothing to us in times of stress. But how?
You may, or may not, know that yoga doesn’t only occur on a yoga mat, in a group class, at a studio. And meditation doesn’t have to take place in a cross-legged seat on the floor with your eyes closed.
There are 8 limbs to yoga, and only one of them pertains to poses and postures. Three of them guide our meditation practice. That leaves the other half of the yoga tradition that we can consult to support us. More on that in another post…
ASANA – MOVEMENT
The movement we do in a yoga class, we have learned is like a medicine to our body. We can see evidence of this each time our body cues hunger or needs for evacuation. Without movement, energy (from thoughts, emotions, sensations, and anything we consume) can get stuck in our bodies. Stuck energy in our bodies can manifest as what we call stress.
When we move on our yoga mats, in a particular way, we can let go of some of that stuck energy. However, without being mindfulness and intentional about our movement, it is also possible for us to accumulate more stress in our body. Intentional movement is key!
MEDITATION – YOGA FOR A PEACEFUL MIND
Stay with me, this one can be tricky. And because it is tricky, it can be easy to disregard. Many of us have sat for a session of meditation, closed our eyes, started to breath and found our minds racing relentlessly into a convoluted abyss of remorse, regret, and randomness. Quickly assuming it doesn’t work, or we can’t do it, we give up trying altogether.
Yoga offers three different limbs to guide us toward mental liberation through meditation.
The first suggests to withdraw, which we experience by closing down our screens, reducing noise, closing our eyes, and getting still.
The second is focused concentration, which is the purpose of the suggestion to follow breath. Often overlooked, focused concentration can be on any point of singular focus – watching a candle, listening to music, washing hands in running water. Breath is an always available option, but not our only one.
Lastly, yoga guides us toward absorption. Perhaps you have found yourself so deeply entranced and engrossed in an activity that you loosen your concept of time. Fully present to what is front of you, and deeply connected – this is a form of meditation.
SUMMARY
- Bottom line – you can practice movement as a medicine for your body, anywhere, anytime.
- Pop onto my youtube channel for a free class or get yourself out of your chair for a walk down your driveway.
- Minimize the barriers for you to participate in movement.
- Put your phone down, reduce the amount of distraction available to you.
- Pay attention to your breath (or anything else you settle your attention on)
- Participate in activities that let you feel completely present and alive!
