Stress means different things to different people and is an inevitable part of our lives. When we say we are stressed we are referring to our unique experience, what may be stressful to us may not be so for another. The sources of stress are also varied and are contingent on a number of physiological, psychological and environmental factors. Some would say that being alive is just stressful, period. So the problem is not stress, per se, but how we respond to the stressors. The stress response is a survival mechanism which allows us to respond to the ever changing circumstances of our lives. However, the problem arises when the body’s physiological response to stress is continuously stimulated leading to deterioration of our physical, mental and emotional health. For those dealing with illness cumulative stress can prove fatal. Whether we are dealing with illness or over-scheduled busy lives, managing stressors more skillfully can improve our quality of life and sense of well-being. Studies in the USA reflect that over 70% of visits to primary health providers are due to stress related illnesses. Over the last 20 years a number of hospital-based lifestyle change programs include Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness practices for stress reduction. Among them are the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversal of Heart Disease, www.pmri.org, and The Stress Reduction Clinic founded by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm, Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness include very simple and accessible yet profound stress management techniques. The Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness stress management practices can help us navigate life’s inevitable changes more skillfully. They can allow us to begin to notice when we are stressed, identify stressors, discover what needs to be done to reduce the negative effects and promote a foundation of balance that will allow us to deal with stressors more skillfully in the moment and in the future. The idea underlying this form of stress management is that participants will gradually learn how to integrate the practices into their daily life. Of course, this is a process and it requires time and commitment. The stress management techniques offered by ADK Yoga include the following: breath awareness and breathing techniques to energize and relax, poses and stretches to relieve physical tension, progressive relaxation to rejuvenate and revitalize and meditation/concentration techniques to focus and calm the mind. The sequence of the stress management session includes all these components and is designed to release the tensions of our lives and to cultivate the capacity to relax and renew. We do the practices without straining or striving, in a way where we feel comfortable and at ease. Should there be difficulty with any of the practices they are highly adaptable and can be tailored to each person’s capabilities. As we become comfortable with the practices they provide a very thorough stimulation of all the systems of the body, gently massaging internal organs, promoting greater respiratory function, balancing metabolism, improving cardiac output, cultivating greater body awareness and, in some instances, deep experiences of calm and relaxation, and a boost of energy. The benefits also translate into a greater sense of mental calmness and focus. ADK Yoga can facilitate the process of discovering
which techniques are most effective. We support each person in cultivating
the capacity to be more present and balanced in their life. ADK
Yoga |
