Yoga For Stress Relief



    STRESS AND ASANAS 


    The most natural treatment for stress is the practice of asanas and pranayama. 


    • Practicing asanas using props increases your stamina and helps you to get the most out of the position without putting too much pressure on your body. 

    Many individuals use tranquilizers, alcohol, nicotine, or comfort food to cope with stress.


    • These may provide immediate comfort, but as we all know, they are just transient fixes that are really counterproductive. 
    • They also have severe side effects that make people feel more stressed. 

    Simple relaxation methods may temporarily reduce stress levels, but they do not address the root causes of stress. 


    • Past yogis and sages have stressed the need of confronting emotional turbulence or worry with serenity and steadiness. 
    • Yoga may assist you in internalizing the good attitudes that enable you to deal calmly with difficult circumstances. 



    DEVELOPING STRESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS. 


    Every person has the ability to distinguish between good and harmful habits and to acquire a sense of ethical behavior. 


    • You may reduce stress that depletes the body's bioenergy by developing healthy habits, such as frequent yoga practice. 
    • The practice of asanas and pranayama is not only the most effective, but also the most natural treatment for stress, with no risk of negative side effects, unlike many other therapies. 
    • Relaxation alone is insufficient to counteract the harmful consequences of stress. 
    • Regular yoga practice, along with a healthy food and way of life, aids in the generation of massive quantities of energy in the body, activating cells and relaxing tight muscles. 

    While the mental effects of asanas and pranayama take time to manifest, with patience and commitment, you will soon notice a sense of mental equilibrium and well-being both during and after your practice. 


    • The five senses of awareness that distract the attention to the external world are pulled inside when practicing asanas and pranayama. 
    • When your mind's restlessness subsides, your whole being becomes quiet and stable. 
    • Negative stress is decreased, while good stress advantages are increased, increasing the resilience and flexibility of the nerves, organs, senses, intellect, and intelligence, resulting in a healthy mind and body. 
    • Clarity, determination, self-discipline, and ethical and moral sensitivity emerge naturally, allowing you to live a peaceful, stress-free life in tune with your surroundings. 



    PRACTICE, ACTIVE AND PASSIVE YOGA POSTURES


    We deal with many various kinds of stress on a daily basis, including physical, psychological, and physiological stress. 


    Only a balanced mix of active and passive practice may successfully counteract the harmful consequences of this. 


    • When talking about yoga with props, I use the phrase "passive practice" since it helps to develop mental serenity, patience, and endurance. 
    • As the name implies, "active practice" is more energetic and usually relates to traditional postures without the use of props. 


    These postures, particularly those involving back bends and standing poses, aid in the development of endurance, energy, and flexibility. 


    • The proportions of active and passive postures will vary from person to person, and even season to season. 
    • On a hot day, reclining asanas, inversions, and resting asanas, for example, are very helpful. 
    • These asanas save energy by slowing the metabolism. 
    • Standing, back bends, and inverted asanas activate the body's systems throughout the winter months, helping to combat common illnesses including colds, coughs, chest congestion, and sinusitis. 



    TIMING AND SEQUENCING OF YOGA ASANAS


    Sequencing refers to the practice of asanas in a certain sequence in order to optimize their efficacy. 


    • Excessive vigorous practice may lead to egoism and exhaustion of the body's systems. 
    • Too much passive practice, on the other hand, may lead to melancholy, lethargy, restlessness, and irritation. 

    As you learn more about yoga and your own body, you'll be able to fine-tune your practice's sequences to reach the perfect balance of energetic and passive postures. 


    • You'll be able to hold postures for longer periods of time as your endurance and flexibility improve. 
    • An asana's impact cannot be achieved in a matter of seconds, and time is determined by energy, intellect, and awareness. 



    ASANAS WITH PROPS 


    If you're stressed out, have a small injury, or are tired in any manner, it's better to practice yoga with supports. 


    REDUCING STRESS


    The use of basic props reduces tension and allows you to maintain the position for extended periods of time.


    Yoga asanas with props are unusual in that they are the only type of practice that allows for both movement and rest at the same time. 


    • It works by activating muscles, toning the body's organs, and relieving mental and physical tension. 
    • Props aid in increasing flexibility and stamina while also relaxing slack and weary muscles. 
    • They aid in the rejuvenation of the whole body while reducing physical weariness.
    • Yoga students find the practice of asanas with supports to be a highly energizing activity.
    • It provides them the courage to try harder asanas and guarantees that they are practicing correctly. 
    • Props assist to improve and deepen knowledge of each asana by providing a sense of direction and alignment. 
    • Invariably props as simple as a wall can act as silent educators and guides.



    You may also want to read more about Yoga and Holistic Healing here.

    You may also want to read more about Yoga Asanas and Exercises here.