Combating stress and anxiety with yoga

Combating Stress And Anxiety With Yoga

Modern life is stressful, and in this age of digital technology and fast paced living, we can never fully escape the pressures of work and family life. We can wake up in the middle of the night and check our email and start our working days earlier and earlier attempting to fulfill all our obligations, all while trying to manage a busy household of spouse, kids and pets.

There are a few who thrive on this hectic schedule and love nothing more than rushing around trying to get everything completed in time - and still finding time to hit the gym regularly. But there are many more who are pushed to the breaking point by such hectic and stressful lives – and need effective tools to help combat stress.

Mild, infrequent anxiety can often be tolerated and managed without the need of medication or counseling. But chronic anxiety can be truly debilitating, and many will seek medical intervention to alleviate it. When we have no way of venting our anxiety, the effects are magnified and tension builds – emotional and physical – increases. Long term, chronic stress can severely impact both our minds and our bodies.

To prevent this, we need a strategy to reduce the pressures we feel and alleviate our tension. For those who prefer a holistic approach to mitigating stress, yoga turns out to be an excellent option.

How can yoga help you combat stress and anxiety?

The practice of yoga focuses on both the mind and body, using a series of physical postures or poses, controlled breathing, and meditation to open the body and calm the mind.

Practicing yoga regularly can help you find ways to better cope with the stress, anxiety, and the challenges of everyday life. Incorporating a routine of exercise, focused breathing, and meditation into your daily life could quickly set you on the path toward discovering a sense of ease and wellbeing you may never have experienced before.

Many of the physical yoga postures can be adapted and practiced anywhere, meaning that if you feel anxious at work, stressed out at home or have a panic attack while traveling, you can make use of these techniques to feel better almost instantly. Daily practice of varying yoga poses along with relaxation exercises and meditation is also helpful in keeping chronic stress and tension at bay.

What does science say about all this?

Researchers have conducted numerous studies on this subject in recent years, and yoga’s efficacy has been widely established. One study compared people who practiced yoga regularly with people who walked regularly plus a control group, and compared their levels of the amino acid GABA – a compound that is essential for healthy brain and central nervous system function. They discovered that GABA levels were significantly higher in those who regularly practiced yoga.

Individual with low levels of this amino acid may be susceptible to depression and anxiety, whereas elevated levels are associated with a greater sense of inner calm and serenity.

Additional studies have shown that insulin secretion is increased among those who regularly practice yoga. While insulin is most commonly associated with regulating blood sugar levels, it also triggers your body to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is known, among other things, to enhance our mood and reduce anxiety.

While research continues on this subject and there are still many areas of study to explore, the early evidence clearly shows that yoga can help people to better cope with the stresses and strains of daily life. While few would claim that it is a panacea that will eliminate all of the anxiety that we face in our busy lives, science and first-hand experience is showing that it can be an important tool in helping us to cope with the challenges and stressors that have become so prevalent in our hectic, modern-day society.

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