Each day we are faced with challenges, stresses, and problems waiting to be solved. Our bodies respond to this, most times, without us even being aware of what is going on. The nervous system engages in what we call a fight or flight response when faced with these everyday stressors. A hormone in our body, cortisol, increases with the fight or flight response. The mechanism that engages this response is a brilliant adaptation, which helps keep us safe when in clear and present danger. Back in the hunting and gathering days, this was vital for survival. The problem today, is we don't come in contact with a bear or mountain lion, warranting the increase in cortisol. Instead, we come in contact with traffic, deadlines, family dysfunction, etc. Our bodies still give the same response, however. Many of us have high cortisol levels, which can lead to a multitude of physical ailments: high blood pressure, acid reflux, insomnia, and even premature aging. We have genetic "caps" on our DNA called telomeres that become shorter the more our bodies and brains are stressed. Short telomeres are associated with premature aging and a long list of disease. So, what can we do to stop this response? There is a lot you can do and yoga can support your process.
Breath work or pranayama is discussed and practiced regularly and emphasized in yoga. As you practice conscious breathing, your body has a physical response. Your sympathetic nervous system, which is engaged when your body is stressed and in the fight/flight response, is turned off and your parasympathetic nervous system takes over when you work on your breath. As you lengthen your exhalation and slow your breath, your heart rate begins to slow and rest. Bringing awareness to your breath as you practice keeps you in the moment during the asanas (postures) rather than allow the mind to wander and reengage in stressful or negative thought patterns. With practice and a high level of consciousness, we are able to bring this skill into our everyday lives when we face stressors head on. In each moment, we have a choice. You can stay unconscious and allow the body and brain to run rampant, or you can choose to breathe with awareness. I once read that it takes 90 seconds for your body to stop the physical reaction of an immediate stressor, being physical, mental, or emotional. Slowing the reaction process down by taking a deep breath and coming back to the pranayama practice taught in yoga, you can begin to make better choices about how you respond in any given moment, regardless of the situation. This sounds very simple but is actually one of the most difficult things for us to do. My suggestion is take it moment by moment. Give yourself a break when you lose your ground. There is a new moment right around the corner. Take a deep breath and move forward.
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When I was in graduate school for psychology, I read thousands of pages, hundreds of research articles all revolving around solving problems people and populations are faced with. From addiction to disease I realized at the root of each problem was a common thread: a lack of balance. I believe as human beings we so often live out of balance because we are wanting to feel as good as possible all the time. When this desire is overwhelmed by unhealthy behaviors we are faced with alcoholism, drug addiction, obesity, anorexia, sex addiction, antisocial tendencies, avoidance behaviors, etc. These are all extreme examples of being out of balance, however even if your life is not touched by the extreme, I am sure you can think of some examples of imbalances in your day to day life. For me, I struggle with balance ALL. THE. TIME. As I have gotten older, life has become busier. I am juggling a lot of balls and it takes everything I have to keep them all in the air. Keeping my life balanced is not an easy task but I am noticing that the harder I work to consciously balance my life, the happier I am. It takes planning and effort to think about how I can better manage and attain balance with working, raising a daughter, keeping a strong marriage, eating well, exercising, maintaining positive relationships with friends and family, and fulfilling my own desires. When I go through my days unconsciously just trying to get through, I feel as though I am grasping at anything to help me stay afloat. These are the days I end up at a drive through for a snack or meal and end up with a stomachache at the end of the day. On days I begin in prayer or meditation, I find myself making decisions more consciously. This is one of many helpful tips to help me achieve balance in my daily life and the biggest support in my journey has been yoga.
One of my favorite things about yoga is the postures can often be seen as metaphors for life. Anytime I go into a balancing posture, whether on my hands or my feet, the first thing I do is make sure I am firmly rooted. What an incredible metaphor for my rooting in prayer at the beginning of my day in order to better achieve balance. Next, I check in with my alignment in the posture. Am I engaging the proper muscles for the posture? Am I lining up my joints correctly for health and balance? Similarly, checking in with each area of my life is crucial to ensure I am not causing harm by ignoring small but vital adjustments. Once in the proper positioning for the yoga pose, I bring awareness to my breath. Breath work in yoga is probably the single most important area of practice, especially when working on balance. Breath is crucial to life. We often take for granted that our body will continue to breathe regardless of what we are doing in order to keep us alive. Imagine what life can become when you breathe with awareness and gratitude. Refocusing on our breath can stop negative thought patterns, slow a racing heart, and assist in holding ourselves in balance. When I am grounded in my breath then I can begin to radiate my energy through my limbs when practicing a balancing posture. How true this is for my life; when I am grounded and balanced, I radiate joy and love allowing me to be my true self. Practicing yoga has helped me find my balance and assists me in continuing to rebalance when I lose it. We all lose our balance and fall sometimes. It is humbling and scary when we do but we can either learn from it and continue to try again and become stronger, or we can give in to imbalances leading to "dis-ease". As balance is crucial to living your best life, free of disease and full of health and happiness, find what helps you balance each day. This takes time and constant attention, but believe me, it is so worth it. |