Overcoming Stress?
The circumstances of our life our difficult to change but we Do get to choose our approach to the pressures of life. This is what we can learn to do for ourselves. Hans Selye, the Canadian physician, described stress as simply the body’s adaptation to change. It is how we respond whenever an internal or external event occurs.
Shanti Shanti Kaur says, “stress can be as simple as a shift in room temperature or as destabilizing as losing one’s job. Since change happens nearly every instant, we have a stress response nearly every instant. Stress is natural and necessary. Over time, we create our own individual stress response pattern through our thoughts and beliefs, our emotional responses, the way we breathe, and the way we hold and move our body. This pattern becomes set at a certain point, and although this response is intended to be helpful, more often than not our personal stress response pattern blocks the natural flow of ease in the body, and we become frequently sick, easily tired, often irritable, and generally “stressed out.” In each stress response, we draw on the capacity of the glandular and nervous systems, which in turn affects the sensitivity and vitality of the immune response. Where we hold tension and how quickly we release it forms our individual, personal stress response which determines what happens in our body, how much energy we have, how healthy we stay, and how we feel at the end of the day. One characteristic of a healthy stress response is to take action when action is needed and to pause, or rest internally, when it is not.
- What are the little everyday things that add to your stress levels? List them.
- What is a personal stress trigger that others might find inconsequential?
Practical solutions -Yogic Breath
Your stress response is etched into your body. To start correcting it start with an exhalation. Continue to breathe consciously. Notice in your body where the breath comes easily, where it is restricted. Notice what part of your torso moves, and what does not. Notice where your breath stops and how deep it goes, both on the inhalation and on the exhalation. Throughout the day, notice your breathing pattern and where you hold tension in your body. Do you hold your breath when thinking? When listening? When performing certain tasks? Do you lift your shoulders or tighten your stomach? These are all part of your personal stress response pattern. Once you are aware of your patterns, you can interact with it, modify it, and make it work for you. Breath is our direct link to our subconscious, unconscious mind, mood, energy and spirit. On a physical level, it is the practice of the various yogic breathing techniques that strengthens the nervous system and balances the action of the glandular system. Since these two systems are key to the stress response, making them strong through proper breathing actually breaks previous patterns and forms a healthy stress response. By breathing from the navel point, we develop a deeper relationship with the core of the body, bringing greater confidence and calm. Sat nam x raymond.fiona@gmail.com 0778011984 www.sanasuma.co.uk www.3ho.org
Mon 3 Sept 6.15-7.30pm Kundalini Yoga @ Prana Lounge, Col 7
Mon 3 Sept 6-7pm Kundalini Yoga Shaunagh @Om Shambala, 143 Fife Rd, Col 5 (FREE)
Tues 4 Sept 9.45-10.45am Kundalini Yoga@ Om Shambala,143 Fife Rd, Col 5
Tues 4 Sept 6-7.15pm Kundalini Yoga Class Shaunagh @ 145/5Fife Road, Col 5
Wed 5 Sept 5.00- 7.30am Sadhana @ 145/5 Fife Rd, Col 5 (FREE)
Wed 5 Sept 6.45-8pm Kundalini Yoga @ 9 Greenlands Lane, Col 5
Thurs 6 Sept 11-1pm Special Needs Kids and teacher class @ Reach Beyond, Tickel Rd
Sat 8 Sept 4-5.30pm Gong Bath @ Sri Yoga Shala, Thalpe, Galle
What is Stress?