Stress Harms Our Health
Most of us know that being chronically stressed is not good for us. But we may not realize how much stress is harming our health. Stress is associated with many health problems and diseases—heart disease, high blood pressure, weakened immunity, and digestive disorders, to name just a few. And the effects of stress aren’t limited to our physical well-being. Chronic stress has also been shown to cause clinical depression and other mental disorders.
It is estimated that a whopping 75-90% of all doctor visits in the United States are stress-related. An American Psychological Association survey says that about one-fourth of Americans rate their stress level as 8 on a 10-point scale. That’s pretty high stress.
We all experience stress. It might be caused by a tense situation at work, or family problems. Coping with disease and financial problems are also common causes of stress. Part of the reason we become chronically stressed in the first place is that we don’t take the time to really relax. Endless activity and multi-tasking is stressful and takes its toll. We need to take some time out for yoga. A regular yoga practice can help relieve and even prevent stress.
We Need to Rest
Yoga teaches that we are active by nature, so it’s natural for us to be busy. But it’s not natural to live at such a frenzied pace and under constant stress. We absolutely need downtime & real rest. When we do finally have time to relax, we should be selective and choose those activities that will benefit us the most.
Some activities in our daily life can be agitating and can alter our mood or stir our emotions, like watching the news, a movie, or having a debate with someone online. Other activities are calming and prevent or relieve stress. For example, you can turn your attention inward and do some calming yoga poses or yoga breathing exercises, yoga relaxation, or meditation. These are wonderful ways to ease stress, for both the body and mind. By taking the time to practice these valuable techniques, we can prevent stress from becoming chronic. Yoga Exercises, Yoga Nidra, Relaxation, and Meditation are very tangible and effective ways to ease our stress and to help prevent stress-related disease.
Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is a powerful yoga technique that’s easy to practice and effective in bringing deep relaxation and inner awareness. Yoga Nidra can also help you sleep better and wake up in the morning feeling rested and recharged.
So many of us these days don’t take the time to truly rest. Yet deep relaxation helps prevent disease and is vital to our overall health. Yoga Nidra is a wonderful, ancient technique that will help you achieve a deeply restful state. It allows you to relax your entire body, one part at a time.
While Yoga Nidra is primarily a day-time relaxation technique, many people like to practice practice Yoga Nidra just before bed-time to help quiet the mind and make it easier to fall asleep. By falling asleep with a relaxed body and calm mind, you will sleep much more soundly, the quality of your sleep will improve, and you’ll need less sleep. You’ll also wake up in the morning feeling rejuvenated. It truly is a wonderful technique that also helps with insomnia, nervousness, and anxiety.
As you are gently guided through the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra, you will discover on this soothing journey that deep-seated tension and stress melts away. Lying down or sitting in your favorite chair, you can close your eyes and leave your cares behind as I guide you step-by-step through the relaxation of your body and mind. As you become still, you will experience healing energy flowing freely throughout your body bringing you calmness, clarity, and deep physical, mental, and emotional relaxation.
Yoga Nidra – Become aware of each part of your body that is touching the floor, feeling very heavy. Heels, calves, hamstrings, become aware of your breathing. Breath in and out, breathing slowly and evenly.
Wishing you well,
Wai Lana
