Stress
Good stress – eustress - Bad stress - distress
Eustress is needed to deal with daily living. However, a balance is required to keep it at a healthy level, to stop it becoming chronic, causing adverse symptoms, to stop it getting out of control, and turning into distress. To keep the body and mind healthy they need to be kept in homeostastis, where all systems of the body and mind are maintained at equilibrium. One way to help the body and mind get back to homeostastis is deep relaxation.
Deep relaxation is considered as one of the most important poses In the Yoga discipline. Deep relaxation, Shavasana, is a conscious relaxation which invigorates and refreshes the body and mind. Tension is released from the physical body, the muscles lose tension, and the whole of the physical body lets go, releases. The mind becomes quiet, and calm. The stillness of the body halts the accumulative effects of physical tension from building up, and causing physical stress to the system. As the muscles relax more blood flows through them keeping them healthier. The same applies to the organs of the body as tension is released they are free to function at a more efficient level. The breathing becomes calm, the heart rate slows, and the mind calms. Mental stress levels lower or disappear as the mind becomes quiet and calm. Clarity of thought emerges and as the mind calms anxieties are reduced. The risk of chronic stress and the problems that it can bring can be lowered. After deep relaxation the practitioner emerges refreshed, with the body in a calm physical state, and with the mind clear and quiet.
Another tool that yoga can offer to reduce stress and improve physical and mental wellbeing is to control the breath to improve the quality of the breath. ‘Rhythmic, deep and slow respiration stimulates and is stimulated by calm, contented states of mind. Irregular breathing disrupts the rhythms of the brain and leads to physical, emotional and mental blocks. Pranayama establishes regular breathing patterns, breaking this negative cycle and reversing the process. It does so by taking control of the breath and re-establishing the natural, relaxed rhythms of the body and mind’.
To control the breath and to be aware of the breath and the quality of the breath the practitioner can lower the level of stress in both body and mind. Good quality breathing, taking the breath deep into the abdomen and slowly releasing, controlling the ratio of the breath, making the exhale longer than the inhale, can contribute to improving the general wellbeing of the practitioner by inducing a state of calm. The physical body can benefit from improving the quality of the breath, every cell in the body is influenced by the breath taking in good quality oxygen. The lungs will function more efficiently if all areas of the lungs are exercised. A healthier body will be lower in physical stress. The mind also responds in a positive way from controlled breathing techniques. By focusing on the breath the mind can become quiet. In the book Adrenal Fatigue, there is a section Helping Yourself Back to Health where breathing techniques are introduced as an aid to reducing the effects of chronic stress. Belly breathing, slowing down breath and counting exhalations are the three methods offered to give beneficial effect in combatting adrenal fatigue.
Meditation has a positive effect on reducing stress. Meditation can be done seated or walking, often the breath is used. The important part is to focus the mind and let the mind find a quiet state. The practitioner benefits from a calming effect on the mind. If the mind is quiet and calm, there is no space for anxieties, and this in turn induces a quiet state in the physical body, releasing physical tensions. After meditation the practitioner emerges calm, and balanced, the mind and body are in harmony.
The practice of Yoga Nidra allows the physical body and the mental body to experience a deep relaxation. The practitioner reduces or removes tensions in the body, and with these tensions removed or lowered the body functions more effectively and becomes energised. The mind is also energised when it too loses tension and becomes calm. Visualization is often used in Yoga Nidra. If a stress response can be induced just by thinking about a stressful situation, the opposite also applies. If a practitioner is visualizing calming things, the body will respond. Good vibes can be induced into the body just by visualising something that pleases and calms the practitioner.
Deep relaxation, Pranayama, breathing techniques, meditation and Yoga Nidra all help to reduce stress, hence avoiding a downward spiral of wellbeing. This aspect of Yoga is often overlooked.
