Stress And Yoga – An In-Depth Analysis

Stress is a normal human reaction towards specific individuals or situations. Unfortunately, the plethora of stress-relieving tips you see online do not work on every individual. A typical example can be breathing exercises that might work for you but not for someone with chronic stress. Whether you are stressed about tensions in personal relationships or an upcoming exam, stress impacts every individual differently.

With that said, let us take a look at the different forms of stress you encounter in your day-to-day lives. We will also understand how Yoga for stress relief helps you enjoy a stress-free life.

How Yoga Counters Stress? - Know Here

Given below are three major types of stress and what you can do to alleviate each of these.

1. Acute Stress

When you are off-balance temporarily, it is the handiwork of acute stress. This type of stress impacts your mood and behavior temporarily but does not last for long.

Acute stress activates the fight or flight response system of your body but you can reverse this condition by practicing specific stress-reducing techniques. Some of the techniques you can follow to handle acute stress include;

Yoga Breathing – The breathing techniques you practice during yoga session helps you control acute stress.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation – Similar to yogic breathing exercises, this calms down your reactive brain and helps you relax.

Cognitive Reframing – You should observe a particular situation from a different perspective as that can help you manage stress levels without much fuss.

2. Emotional Stress

The worst form of stress is emotional stress that impacts your mental and physical health harder than other types of stress. For example, the stress you face in relationships tends to draw out a bigger physical reaction from your body and much stronger distress than the normal stress you are used to.

You must handle emotional stress without any delay. Given below are three strategies to help you deal with this stress.

Mindfulness – An effective yoga for stress relief technique that helps you focus on the present moment.

Journal – Maintain and write a journal regularly. The journal should contain what you felt during a particular situation and how you handled it.

Speak to Someone – By talking, experts recommend you consult a therapist or a close friend about what you feel. Make sure, to be honest, and forthcoming and do not hide your emotions.

3. Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is a serious mental health condition where stress becomes a part of your daily life. This type of stress leaves you feeling empty of any energy, and eventually leads to burnout. Chronic stress causes your stress-response system to remain activated for a longer period and your body is unable to come back to a state of rest.

To manage chronic stress effectively, you need a combination of different approaches including short-term and long-term stress-relief habits. Given below are some effective techniques to help you cope with chronic stress.

Exercise – Regular exercise has shown to be an effective stress management technique.

Meditation – An ancient yet the most effective yogic technique you can inculcate in your regular life to deal with chronic stress.

Music – Music is often the much-recommended treatment to help you bring chronic stress under control. It also helps you de-stress after a tiring day at work.

However, that is not all. There are specific yoga asanas that can help you beat stress and enjoy a happy life.

Yoga Poses To Handle Stress

Given below are three powerful yoga asanas to help you beat stress.

1. Sukhasana (Easy Pose)

If you want to do a yoga asana that opens your hips and lengthens the spine look no further than Sukhasana. It calms down your nervous system and eliminates anxiety. The best part about this yoga pose is it beats physical and mental stress.

2. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

Seated Forward Bend is one of the best yoga for stress relief pose that provides your hamstrings, spine, and lower back a good stretch. It gives you relief from PMS, improves digestion, and reduces fatigue among others.

3. Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)

Uttanasana helps you find relief from depression and stress. It calms down your mind and stimulates the kidneys and liver. This yoga asana also stretches your hips, hamstrings, and calves.

Conclusion

Stress if not treated on time can become a severe problem. However, if you inculcate yoga for stress relief into your daily routine it helps you avoid unnecessary stress without any hassle. All you would need is the right yoga teacher and a dedication to continuing with the practice.

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