Jai Dee Yoga and Wellness Studio News
When it Comes to Stress Management Spending:
Less is More
During times of stress, health giving relaxation activities have a tendency to fall off the weekly routine. Concurrently, economic reports reveal that exercise and relaxation spending have been some of the first activities cut from the pocketbook during our economic crisis, while fast food sales are on the rise.
Wellness studies show that during times of stress, individuals tend to respond in either a "stress hardy" manner or fall back on unhealthy coping skills. Can we really afford to drop our stress management activities?
Signs and symptoms of stress overload
It’s important to learn how to recognize when your stress levels are increasing. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can creep up on you. You get used to it. It starts to feels familiar – even normal. You don’t notice how much it’s affecting you, even as it takes a heavy toll. Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways, and everyone experiences stress differently. For example, stressed emotional eaters will eat more sweet, high-fat foods and more energy-dense meals than unstressed and non-emotional eaters. Why? Stress can damage an area of the brain with a controlling effect on mood. The hippocampus, which regulates levels of cortisol, can effect bodily changes that result from stress and can trigger a stress response and depression in some people.
Many Health Problems Are Caused or Exacerbated by Stress, including:
Cognitive Symptoms
1. Memory problems
2. Inability to concentrate
3. Poor judgment
4. Seeing only the negative
5. Anxious or racing thoughts
6. Constant worrying
Emotional Symptoms
1. Moodiness
2. Irritability or short temper
3. Agitation, inability to relax
4. Feeling overwhelmed
5. Sense of loneliness and isolation
6. Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms Aches and pains
1. Diarrhea or constipation
2. Nausea, dizziness
3. Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
4. Loss of sex drive
5. Frequent colds
Behavioral Symptoms
1. Eating more or less
2. Sleeping too much or too little
3. Isolating yourself from others
4. Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
5. Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
6. Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
Learn how to navigate stress
Managing stress is all about taking back control: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when you are able, changing your reaction and decisions when you must surrender to circumstances, and taking care of yourself by creating time for rest and relaxation.
Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of stress can also be caused by other psychological and medical problems. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs of stress, it’s important to see a health care practioner for a full evaluation. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not your symptoms are stress-related.
Inexpensive Tips on Dealing with stress and its symptoms
Yoga: Gaining Relief and other Health Benefits
Yoga offers an inexpensive tried and true tool for stress management and relaxation. Yoga, with its unique system of movements and relaxing breath, can draw your focus away from chronic overwhelm and into quiet awareness as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.
The benefits of yoga may also surpass stress relief. Other health benefits of yoga may include:
1. Increased flexibility
2. Management of chronic health conditions
3. Weight loss
4. Balance
5. Foot Care
6. Relief of Caregiver stress and fatigue
7. Increased Immune Response
Yoga is being used more and more as an integrated health treatment when combined with treatment recommended by your health care practioner. And if you already enjoy good health, yoga can be an enjoyable supplement to your regular exercise routine.
Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response: a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in your everyday stress levels and boost feelings of joy and serenity. They also increase your ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.
Strengthen Relationships: Get Connected
A strong support network is one of your greatest protections against stress. When you have a healthy community of friends, life’s pressures don’t seem as overwhelming. Another inexpensive way of managing stress is to spend time with people you feel comfortable with and don’t let your responsibilities keep you from having a social life. Make it a priority to build stronger and more satisfying connections.
Tips for reaching out and building relationships:
· Volunteer with a local non-profit organization
· Have lunch with a co-worker
· Call or email an old friend
· Visit community supported businesses
· Go for a walk in the neighborhood
· Take a yoga class or group exercise class
· Join a bicycle or running club
Invest: In your emotional and physical health
Most people ignore their emotional and physical health until there’s a problem. Studies in wellness show that investment in emotional health is cost effective: we get sick less often; spend less on medicine and hospitalizations and loose less time from work. People with good emotional health remain focused, flexible, and positive in bad times as well as good. The good news is that there are many inexpensive steps you can take to build your resilience and your overall emotional and physical health. In the case of investing in health giving relaxation and coping activities: Less is More!