| Have you noticed just how often during the course of | | | | mind may be racing and full, you may think you can't |
| your day you hear friends, family or work colleagues | | | | cope, that you can't do everything and will never finish |
| say they are stressed or going through a stressful | | | | what you have to do. Behavioural symptoms include |
| time? Maybe you are also going through a stressful | | | | not being able to sleep, starting things and not being |
| time? | | | | able to concentrate, maybe shouting and excessive |
| The word 'stress' is frequently used by people. As a | | | | swearing. Physical responses include sweating, |
| yoga teacher, I am often asked by my yoga students | | | | breathing quickly and erratically, you may have a |
| if there is anything they can do about stress, what | | | | headache, back pain or in extreme cases, high blood |
| causes it and what they can do to deal with the | | | | pressure, ulcers and heart related diseases. |
| effects of stress. Here in no particular order are the | | | | 4. How can yoga help me deal with stress? Yoga is a |
| five most frequently questions I am asked about using | | | | holistic health care system. It consists of a variety of |
| yoga for stress management. | | | | yoga postures, yoga breathing exercises, relaxation |
| Five Popular Questions Asked About Using Yoga for | | | | techniques and meditation practices. Together these |
| Stress Management | | | | practices help you to calm and clear your mind, release |
| 1. What is yoga? The word 'yoga' comes from the | | | | tension and pain in your body, nurture your spirit and |
| Sanskrit language and means union. In the west there | | | | generally empower you to feel upbeat and strong |
| are many schools of yoga, but the goal is always the | | | | enough to carry on through difficult times. Yoga |
| same, to achieve union, total harmony between body, | | | | techniques can help you relax before and during |
| mind and spirit traditionally in each individual and the | | | | stressful situations and feel calmer and more able to |
| divine. | | | | cope when thinking about stress. |
| 2. What is stress? The word stress means different | | | | 5. What is the flight or fight response? The fight or |
| things to different people. In essence, people use the | | | | flight response is your body's natural instinct to care |
| word 'stress' to describe how they feel when | | | | and protect you from harmful situations. It consists of a |
| everything seems too much and they struggle to cope | | | | series of biochemical changes that prepare you to |
| with all the demands placed on them. | | | | deal with threatening or dangerous situations. These |
| Everyone is different and we all experience 'stress' in | | | | changes include increased heart rate, breathing rate |
| different ways - some people can cope with divorce | | | | and increased blood pressure, blood is directed from |
| and see it as a liberating experience whereas another | | | | your extremities and digestive system into the larger |
| person may find the whole process painful and leave | | | | muscles so your body is prepared to flee or fight. |
| them feeling lonely and isolated. | | | | Learning to cope with and manage your stress levels |
| 3. How can you tell if you are stressed? Generally the | | | | is vital in your desire to live a more stress free and |
| symptoms of stress fall into four broad categories | | | | relaxed lifestyle. Understanding a little bit about what |
| relating to emotions, thoughts, behaviors and physical | | | | causes stress and how to identify if you are stressed |
| reactions. On an emotional level, signs and symptoms | | | | helps you to gain a deeper understanding of the |
| that you may be stressed are feeling angry, upset, or | | | | benefits of yoga for stress management. |
| just being in a bad mood; when you are stressed, your | | | | |