|
Stress has become such a common
complaint in our society today. It is linked to the top
six leading causes of death which are heart disease,
cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver
and suicide. Immune system response decreases, increased
memory loss and obesity are among the health problems
resulting from stress. These risks are also very
important to consider if you are pregnant because the
baby is also affected by the mother’s stress levels.
Stress, as defined by
wikipedia.com, is a physical or psychological stimulus
that can produce mental or physiological reactions that
may lead to illness. Stress causes an imbalance to the
body’s homeostasis. If we cannot adapt to maintain
balance during times of stress then detrimental effects
can occur. Our body will show signs such as
irritability, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, backaches,
hypertension, ulcers and even heart attacks.
 |
According to
Ayurveda, stress is related to the Vata energy in our body. Vata
has air and space qualities and if you think about the
activities of air you will see wind, movement, direction
changes, and dryness. Space qualities allow things to
disperse and dilute focus. High stress will show these
symptoms as anxiety, no focus, impatience and digestive
disorders such as constipation. While exercise is a good
way to relieve stress and “blow of steam” this can also
contribute to the
|
imbalance by over working an
already taxed system.
It is important to realize
that you will always encounter stressful situations, and
trying to avoid them can be stressful in itself.
However, by incorporating activities that train your
mind and body to better cope with stress, you can lead a
happy and exciting life without the ill effects. These
balancing activities should help induce relaxation and
reduce the effects of stress. (continued on page 3)
|
Savasana
 Savasana
or corpse pose is regarded as one of the most important
poses to master. It helps to calm the mind,
relieve stress and mild depression. Being that it is a
relaxation pose, it can help lower blood pressure;
reduce headaches, fatigue and insomnia.
Lying on your back, place your feet on the floor and
gently lift your hips to tuck tailbone under. Straight
out your legs, allowing them to relax into the floor.
Move your arms away from your body so that they are not
touching. Allow your head to relax, adjusting so that
the neck is long and comfortable. With each breath,
focus on lengthening the exhale slightly longer than the
inhale. With each exhale, release any tension from the
body.
The idea is not to fall asleep but to stay with the
breath, allowing your body and mind to relax. If your
mind starts to wander, bring your attention back to your
breath.
This practice should be done for at least 5 -15 minutes
a day to refresh your body and mind.
You may use a bolster under the knees and/or a folded
blanket under the head for additional support. |
