| Like most people, you live a busy life. There are bills to | | | | 2. Basic breathing exercises (pranayama) help you |
| pay, child care, parenting matters to sort out and of | | | | calm and focus your mind and encourage your body |
| course you desire to have some sort of me time. How | | | | to relax. A central part of yoga is learning how to |
| is all this possible? Especially if you work full time and | | | | breathe correctly. Yogic breathing consists of breathing |
| your head is full of projects and things to do. | | | | slowly deeply and fully using all your breathing |
| Maybe you have heard work colleagues say yoga is | | | | apparatus (lungs, diaphragm and abdomen). During |
| good for you, that regular practice can help to make | | | | your day, if you feel stressed or have an important |
| you feel fitter, more relaxed and content with what is | | | | project you are trying to complete then taking two |
| going on in your life. However your life is so full that | | | | minutes to consciously breathe slowly in and out |
| you just haven't the time or energy to find out more | | | | through your nose for a count of three will help to |
| about yoga and what it can do to help you relax and | | | | clear your mind and focus clearly on the task at hand. |
| create more space in your life. | | | | 3. Guided meditation encourages and supports your |
| Three ways yoga helps you to reduce pain and stress | | | | inner peace, calm and emotional balance. Meditation is |
| and feel calm at home and work. Yoga is a system of | | | | the ability to still your mind and focus on one positive |
| physical exercises (known as asanas), relaxation | | | | thought, image or your breathing and is a simple yogic |
| techniques, breathing techniques and meditation | | | | technique to help you reduce emotional pain and |
| practices. These help you to reduce stress, feel calm, | | | | physical stress. Have you noticed that when you are |
| relaxed and have more meaning in your life. | | | | going through a difficult personal period, your mind |
| Here are three popular ways yoga can help you feel | | | | tends to focus on your pain and grief? This makes |
| more in control of your time and the way you live your | | | | you feel worse. Through the practice of meditation it is |
| life. Once you feel more in control of your time and | | | | possible for you, to temporarily at least; find a measure |
| energy it is so much easier to feel calm and positive | | | | of relief from your emotional pain. A simple meditation |
| about managing the other demands you face. | | | | exercise involves you finding a quiet space, sitting |
| 1. Yoga exercises help you to stretch and release | | | | comfortably, uncrossing your legs and resting your |
| stress and tension in your body. If you spend all day at | | | | hands on your lap. Close your eyes and then spend a |
| work, hunched over a desk ploughing away on your | | | | few minutes just observing your breath. Just watching |
| computer, then rush home, put dinner on and listen to | | | | and listening to the way you breathe. |
| your children and partner talk about their day, by the | | | | As you can see, it is possible for you to lead a full, |
| end of the day you are tired and weary. A few | | | | busy yet stress free life. Next time you are at work or |
| minutes of gentle yoga poses, such as the seated | | | | home and feel stressed out, exhausted or tired, just |
| forward bend or resting in the corpse pose before | | | | practice any of the above three easy yoga tips and |
| going to bed helps you to unwind and ease tension | | | | see how calm and relaxed you feel. |
| from your body. | | | | |