Mindfulness, Meditation, And Yoga - Keys To Mental Health And No Stress

The symptoms of stress are many and varied. How do you experience stress? Headache? Muscle tension? Stomachache? Some people have more physical symptoms, others have more emotional ones, such as crying, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and depression. All of these are "normal", but they are unpleasant, to be sure. Since stress is an inevitable part of life, is it worth considering how to respond to it in ways that serve to increase our health, reduce and relieve the stress where we can and manage it where we can't. One of the best ways to begin addressing stress in a healthy way is to learn about the practice of mindfulness.

Mindfulness is an ancient practice that has gotten a lot of attention in the last few years. You may have heard of mindfulness-based stress reduction, or mindfulness meditation. But what does this really mean? The easiest way to understand mindfulness is with this definition: Nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. In other words, "tuning in" to your inner experience without imposing any evaluation on it. This is challenging, which is why it is called "Practice"! Similarly, meditation can be thought of as a clearing of the mind, a focus on the inner state or focus on one word, phrase or image (this is often called Contemplation). The ultimate goal is to calm the mind so that one can feel more peaceful and able to manage life's challenges. The path to this goal is often strewn with challenges: "Monkey Mind" (thoughts jumping around), physical jitteriness or other types of distractions.

A generation ago, it would have been rare to hear the terms "yoga" and "mental health" in the same sentence. Now it is common. Yoga is recognized as a powerful method of improving one's mental and physical health, and comes in many forms that can be tailored for individual needs. The physical forms of yoga ("hatha") are excellent for increasing strength, flexibility and stamina. The mind-focused aspects of yoga have potential to improve clarity of mind and focus. In fact, the physical asanas of yoga were developed thousands of years ago to help settle and prepare the body and mind for meditation. Many people report feeling more at peace after practicing mindfulness within a yoga session.

What are some ways to put mindfulness, meditation and yoga to use in your everyday life? There is no wrong way to start, and you don't need to spend hours sitting in lotus position. Even two minutes of mindful attention first thing in the morning can help get your day off to a more positive start, while two minutes in the evening can help you relax before sleep. Finding a basic yoga class to try, or even using a simple video, can offer a way to get oriented to yoga a little at a time. The physical aspects of yoga can greatly reduce stress by helping decrease the tension in your nervous system, even if you start slowly with the practice. It is amazing what a few simple postures can do to wake you up or calm you down.

We all have stress in our lives. Stress reduction and stress management are hot topics everywhere. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga do not offer a silver bullet for all the challenges of life, but they do offer powerful ways to manage those challenges in ways that are health-promoting. It's never too late to learn more, experiment and try. You have only peace of mind to gain.

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Mindfulness, Meditation, And Yoga