Yoga is a discipline that brings together the physical, spiritual and mental. The word ‘Yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj, which means to unite, bring together or integrate. Central to the practice of Yoga are meditation and breathing. Experts have found that regular meditation and deep breathing will help in busting stress and increasing your sense of relaxation. Take a look.
Learn how to meditate
Meditation has been around for thousands of years and those who practise its gentle art form will be quick to rave about its powers to quieten your mind, find inner peace and to make a connection with your inner self.
Before you throw up your hands and protest loudly that you don’t have time to meditate, think again!
Meditation isn’t just about sitting cross-legged in your lounge for half an hour a day, while chanting “ohm”.
Meditation is all about becoming aware and focusing on something in particular in order to clear your mind of the ‘busy-ness’ that plagues our everyday lives.
A tried-and-trusted technique that Yogis recommend for people who are too busy to meditate, yet want to meditate, is walking meditation.
How would I practise walking meditation?
When you walk, for example, from your car into the office, instead of running through all the things that you’ve got to do at the office during that day, rather take the time to focus on the actual process of getting out your car and walking to your office. Focus on putting one foot in front of the other, keeping an eagle eye out for anything that might disrupt your path to the office. Be aware of other cars in the parking lot, look out for possible obstacles in your path that you could trip over. By the time that you reach your desk, chances are very good that you’ll feel focused and ready to tackle your tasks for the day!
Take a deep breath
When you’re stressed, adrenaline pumps through your body, causing your heart rate to sky rocket. This is due to the fight-or-flight syndrome as your brain tells your body that you’re in immediate danger so the adrenaline courses through your blood stream, literally pumping you up and getting you ready to go – in a hurry.
By taking a few deep breaths – inhaling through your nose, holding it and then exhaling through your mouth – you’ll slow your heart beat down and will start to feel relaxed. This type of deep breathing is a staple of Yoga practice, which is why practising Yoga regularly will slash your stress levels into ribbons!
Are you already familiar with the stress-busting properties that Yoga provides? Are you keen to let others in on the secret? Trifocus Fitness Academy’s Comprehensive Yoga Course is something that you need to check out. Follow this link to learn more.