0

Comments

Yoga has been introduced to the west only in the last 50 years or so and has been extensively studied since. What was probably suspected by many was validated by numerous researches- that Yoga is a great technique for stress relief. Here is a little bit of history on Yoga to help explain its relationship to stress relief.

Yoga is a science as well as art that propounds complete harmony of the body, mind and the spirit as well as the unification of the spirit with the universal whole. In fact, the word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means ‘to unite’. Yoga propounds that the body needs to be healthy and the mind free of any distractions for the spirit to achieve self actualization. To achieve this end, Yoga utilizes meditation techniques, breath control exercises as well as postures with stretching and balancing exercises that help keep the body as well as the mind healthy.

Yoga and meditation have a huge impact on stress relief. In yoga, meditation implies the art of controlling one’s mind. You need to focus all your attention on a single thought and let the rest of the distracting thoughts strip away. This in itself is a great way to relieve stress as all the thoughts and emotions gradually drain away and you are left in complete control of your mind. Apart from providing stress relief, yoga and meditation provide both your body as well as mind with much needed rest. This helps your body and mind relax as your stress ebbs away.

Breathing techniques are another extremely helpful way of reducing stress. As you focus on your breathing, all other thoughts strip away, leaving you relaxed and refreshed. The best aspect of practicing breathing exercises is that you can do them anytime, anywhere. Whether you are in your car, at your desk or at a party, if you feel stressed out, just do a couple of quick breathing exercises and you will start feeling in control of yourself again.

Yoga Asanas are another great way of reducing stress relief. While these are not instant stress relief measures and cannot be performed anywhere, these go a long way in long term stress management. Even as you try out different asanas, you will need to focus your mind on holding the various poses. This instills a sense of calmness. Also, physical activity required in doing Yoga asanas also helps in relaxing the strained and stretched muscles of the body, hence allowing the body to relax. When the body is relaxed, the mind automatically relaxes.

When breathing exercises, meditation and asanas are done in conjunction, they do provide long term solution for stress management. Practicing Yoga regularly helps people reach equilibrium between their body and mind. It frees the spirit and allows it to contemplate on the unity of the universe. It also helps people come to terms with deep seated emotional problems, which are usually at the root of stress.