With everything going on today, it’s easy to be stressed out and overwhelmed especially when you are forced to stay inside. Remember, yoga is a great way to release stress and anxiety. We know that you all would much rather be joining us in the studio but until we can meet again, here is a friendly reminder to seek the benefits of yoga to help you through this period.
Breathe Deep
Tensions are running high, but yoga can help restore some much-needed peace.
As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to grow and ripple into every area of life, we are all having to cope with the stress. From legitimate fears for vulnerable loved ones, to uncertainty about job security and finances. Even popping to the supermarket has become an fueled nightmare.
But we are in this for the long haul and as more people fall ill, it is likely the changes to our lives will continue to increase. And we need to find ways to cope. Existing with constant anxiety is mentally and physically draining, and not good for our long-term health. Yoga and mindfulness techniques can be really helpful in calming your nervous system and helping to centre your emotions.
Being mindful
The best way to stay calm is to connect with your breath. As soon we connect with our breath, we calm our nervous system and shift it from the so-called sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight) to the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), focusing on the exhale is particularly good for soothing the nervous system, as it feels grounding and releasing. To quickly calm yourself, try lengthening your exhale – inhaling for a count of four, exhaling for eight.
It’s so easy to get stuck in the negatives – the frustration of empty shelves, the pain of not seeing our loved ones, our financial worries, but there is still so much that is good in our lives. Give thanks for the food on your table, the person who delivered it to your door, your online communities, your child’s smile, your cat or dog, Netflix! Above all, remember that today may not be perfect, but it is a gift that you’ll never get back.
Stay connected
Being active has an incredible calming effect, try to get on a yoga mat – even if it’s only for twenty minutes. Moving with your breath, through an asana (physical postures) practice is very powerful too, as again it takes you out of your head and your worries, anchoring you in the here-and-now. Try balancing poses like Tree Pose – it’s very hard to think about anything else when you’re standing on one leg.
On a physical level, yoga has numerous health benefits, including increased strength and flexibility. As many of us are working from home, we may feel increased aches and pains being brought about by unsuitable workspaces. A restorative practice can be the perfect way to help heal your body after a day hunched over a laptop on a dining room table.
Joining in with online classes can also be very beneficial. Not only will you have the physical and mental benefits that yoga practice brings, but a connection to a wider community. By reaching the mat at the same time as others you come to feel less isolated, part of a community and give yourself a timetable to adhere to can make your days seem more purposeful, in a time when many of us feel adrift.