The symptoms of stress are many and varied. How do you experience stress? Headache? Muscle tension? Stomachache? Some people have more physical symptoms, others have more emotional ones, such as crying, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and depression. All of these are "normal", but they are unpleasant, to be sure. Since stress is an inevitable part of life, is it worth considering how to respond to it in ways that serve to increase our health, reduce and relieve the stress where we can and manage it where we can't. One of the best ways to begin addressing stress in a healthy way is to learn about the practice of mindfulness.
Many people have heard of mindfulness practice or mindfulness stress reduction. There are many programs and classes now offered that focus on this. But exactly what is mindfulness and how can it help you? One simple definition of mindfulness is "nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment". This sounds relatively easy, but in practice, it can be challenging. Quietly tuning in to what is happening inside you and making no judgment about it can be hard. We are trained to impose an evaluation on just about everything. This is nothing to feel bad about. Making judgments can be very useful, and is critical in many situations. But being aware of our internal states does not require this when we are working on calming the mind and seeing things clearly. Practicing mindfulness is an effort, but well worth it. Like so many things, the more you practice, the more skilled you will become.
A generation ago, it would have been rare to hear the terms "yoga" and "mental health" in the same sentence. Now it is common. Yoga is recognized as a powerful method of improving one's mental and physical health, and comes in many forms that can be tailored for individual needs. The physical forms of yoga ("hatha") are excellent for increasing strength, flexibility and stamina. The mind-focused aspects of yoga have potential to improve clarity of mind and focus. In fact, the physical asanas of yoga were developed thousands of years ago to help settle and prepare the body and mind for meditation. Many people report feeling more at peace after practicing mindfulness within a yoga session.
Whether you focus on meditation, mindfulness, yoga or all three, you will be taking an active approach to reducing stress and improving your overall mental and physical health. Many people get overwhelmed thinking about starting a meditation practice or yoga. It is fine to start small. In fact, it is probably better to start with just a few minutes of meditation at a time (two to five minutes is more than enough). You might find that even this is challenging! It is often helpful to practice your meditation at the same time every day, so that your mind can get into the rhythm of it. Similarly, many people find it easier to practice yoga at the same time every day. A basic yoga class or even a video is a fine way to start and will allow you to become comfortable with the routine. You will soon find that the physical aspects of yoga are amazingly helpful for reducing stress. Even just a few simple postures, practiced each morning, can offer an invigorating yet calming way to start your day.
Stress is a fact of life. Reducing and managing stress are critical for all of us. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga will not solve all of life's ills but they do have the potential to improve your responses to stress, increase your peace of mind and help you build a healthier life. It's never too late to start.
Many people have heard of mindfulness practice or mindfulness stress reduction. There are many programs and classes now offered that focus on this. But exactly what is mindfulness and how can it help you? One simple definition of mindfulness is "nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment". This sounds relatively easy, but in practice, it can be challenging. Quietly tuning in to what is happening inside you and making no judgment about it can be hard. We are trained to impose an evaluation on just about everything. This is nothing to feel bad about. Making judgments can be very useful, and is critical in many situations. But being aware of our internal states does not require this when we are working on calming the mind and seeing things clearly. Practicing mindfulness is an effort, but well worth it. Like so many things, the more you practice, the more skilled you will become.
A generation ago, it would have been rare to hear the terms "yoga" and "mental health" in the same sentence. Now it is common. Yoga is recognized as a powerful method of improving one's mental and physical health, and comes in many forms that can be tailored for individual needs. The physical forms of yoga ("hatha") are excellent for increasing strength, flexibility and stamina. The mind-focused aspects of yoga have potential to improve clarity of mind and focus. In fact, the physical asanas of yoga were developed thousands of years ago to help settle and prepare the body and mind for meditation. Many people report feeling more at peace after practicing mindfulness within a yoga session.
Whether you focus on meditation, mindfulness, yoga or all three, you will be taking an active approach to reducing stress and improving your overall mental and physical health. Many people get overwhelmed thinking about starting a meditation practice or yoga. It is fine to start small. In fact, it is probably better to start with just a few minutes of meditation at a time (two to five minutes is more than enough). You might find that even this is challenging! It is often helpful to practice your meditation at the same time every day, so that your mind can get into the rhythm of it. Similarly, many people find it easier to practice yoga at the same time every day. A basic yoga class or even a video is a fine way to start and will allow you to become comfortable with the routine. You will soon find that the physical aspects of yoga are amazingly helpful for reducing stress. Even just a few simple postures, practiced each morning, can offer an invigorating yet calming way to start your day.
Stress is a fact of life. Reducing and managing stress are critical for all of us. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga will not solve all of life's ills but they do have the potential to improve your responses to stress, increase your peace of mind and help you build a healthier life. It's never too late to start.
About the Author:
Yoga can help bridge the gap between physical health and mental health. Stress reduction can be achieved through the practice of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.. This article, Stress Reduction Techniques Include Mindfulness, Meditation, And Yoga is released under a creative commons attribution license.
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