How can Yoga and Mindfulness Help?
Mindfulness practice is a tool you can use to help deal with the stress of everyday life.
Life skills training in the management of stress is a key preventative of many mental health problems. The regular practice of Yoga and Mindfulness will empower you with the tools and techniques you need to bring calm and balance to your life. Mindfulness training will help you to recognize stress symptoms in your body, increase your awareness of stress ‘triggers’ , stress-creating thoughts and their affect.
There are many sources of stress;
- Social - Relationships, Life Changes, Work
- Physical - Health Problems and Environmental
- Psychological - Intense Emotions
Stress can be helpful, particularly in short term ‘flight or fight’ situations. To a certain level, stress is energizing and challenging in a way that is motivating and useful. Stress becomes problematic when it accumulates and we become exhausted and depleted. Symptoms of stress are very physical as well as psychological, involving the autonomic nervous, immune and endocrine systems. When a person is anxious they become preoccupied and distracted, thoughts become repetitive, automatic. Consequently our muscles tighten, sleep may be affected. Often we deal with stress in ways that are not helpful; we tend to ‘soldier on’, become focused on externals and unaware of the impact of stress on our body and mind, we may avoid exercise, drink too much coffee, alcohol, and eat poorly. Prolonged stress can predispose to depression, impact on physical health, work performance, safety and relationships.
Science can now demonstrate some of the many benefits of Mindfulness practice, both physical and mental, these include;
- Reduction of anxiety and stress.
- Prevention of depression.
- Balancing of mood and promotion of recovery from depression.
- Physiological benefits including immune support.
Other benefits experienced through regular mindfulness practice include;
- A deeper awareness of the nature of our thoughts and feelings.
- Resulting clarity which aids learning, decision making, creativity and productivity.
- Improved general sense of well being.
- Deeper connection and sense of self that enhances our ability to connect to others, communicate, and establish healthy attachments.
- More frequent moments of gratitude, wonder and playfulness and spontaneity.
For more information about the many benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness, see the related reading section.
How is does it work? >>