Is stress wearing you down?
Worrying about looming deadlines, zoom meetings, job security, homeschooling or being socially distant from or WITH your significant other, takes a toll on the body, breath, mind, emotions and ultimately our spirit. Scientifically, stress can trigger allergies, asthma, headaches, indigestion, pain and more. Over time, stress will contribute to more serious health problems. From an ayurvedic point of view, stress also disrupts the inner harmony of our doshas – the three forces that govern our health on a subtle and gross level. While not every tool in the tool box works for everyone here is a list of tried and true remedies for reducing your stress load at this challenging time in our world history.
1. TAKE A RELAXING BREAK – just lie on your back and relax in svasana watch the natural breath and just be for 5-10mins. This practice balances the nervous system and cultivates a relaxed, clear state of mind.
2. FOR QUICK RELIEF
a. A ginger baking soda hot bath – 1/3cup of ginger(circulation), 1/3 cup baking soda (alkaline), soak for a 20-30mins and sing and move around making sure to soak all the body parts
b. Herbal teas – some favourite herbs – chamomile, tulsi, holy basil, and angelica – 2-3 times a day, be still and take the at least the first few sips calmly, quietly and with a reverence for the smell and taste of the tea.[MOU1]
c. Try a few yoga poses – keep it simple - or do your full practice 1-2x a day while we are in lockdown. If your job is even busier than usual try the simple poses here.
i. Lie on the floor and put your legs up on a chair and relax for 5breath to 5mins,
ii. roll to one side and open the arms up into a deep twist, hold each side for 5-10 breaths,
iii. sit up and back on the heals in hero pose, hands on the front of the knees and take 5 deep
breaths
Need inspiration? Join us for a live online yoga class 6 days a week!
3. MANAGE THE MIND –take a few minutes to sit down and make 2 lists of all of the things that you are worried about. First a list of things you can do something about and Second a list of things you can do nothing about. Get busy working on the first list!
4. EMOTIONAL RELEASE – crying and laughing are natural responses to life, but often times when we are under stress we forget or feel our stories of origin in supressing those responses to life. Osho’s Mysic Rose meditation is a nice way to tap into these natural stress busters. Try 1 week of laughing for 10mins (traditionally 1hr) every day, the 2nd week cry for 10mins a day and the 3rd week sit in quiet meditation for 10mins/day. At first the laughing or crying may feel awkward. Keep trying, eventually it will lead to real tension releasing giggles and tears.
5. OBSERVE NEGATIVE THINKING – stinking thinking can creep up on us when we least expect it. Even when things are hard, especially when things are hard, we can begin to practice noticing when we are thinking, acting, speaking from a place of fear and take a deep breath and ask, “What would it look and/or feel like to act/think/speak from a place of optimism or joy?” Fear and worry will not resolve our issues. Be kind to you and those around you as best as you can and when you can’t try using the Jibberish meditation or the dynamic meditation (PM for more details.)
6. MEDITATION – One of the goals of a yoga practice is rest and many experts have confirmed the effectiveness of simple, quiet meditation. Make time to sit in a comfortable position with the spine erect, facing east. Observe the natural rhythm of your breath and if you feel so inclined try one of my favourite mantras from a beloved teacher, Ram Das, inhaling “I am”, exhaling “loving awareness”. Stay with this for 5-10mins – or longer if it serves you. Let the stress melt away.
7. CULTIVATE MINDFULNESS – meditation does not have to happen just sitting in some perfectly still position. Let it flow, notice how it feels where every you go. Notice what your feet are doing, the position of your hands, practice being present as we walk, look up and notice the sky, the art in your home. By staying present we practice loving this moment, each moment. Then anything that touches us – even stress, anger, anxiety – can become a meditation.
8. GET OUTSIDE - the biophilial effect is real. We are made of the same thing as plants and animals we fail to thrive without sunshine, fresh air and being around nature.
You are doing great! We will get through this together. Keep your spirits up!
Namasté,
Denise