At times, being human in the modern world just doesn’t feel so good. Stress is caused by many different factors yet I believe they all trace back down to one; the mind, which is the sum of our thoughts, attitudes and beliefs. Stress is a reaction to outside events; and our life is a result of our beliefs and our thoughts.
There are many techniques that I have found helpful in dealing with this type of modern day tension.
I remember years ago doing the dishes by hand day after day and after every session I always had to go lie down on the floor, rest and stretch my back because it always hurt. I thought that it was just a part of life with the modern world and housework. Yet yogic awareness, awareness of my body and how it felt in the moment, brought a source of insight that cured me of my back pain forever.
I recently took a trip home to be with my family. During that time I hardly did my yoga practice at all. It does not take long for me to start feeling the effects of stress creeping back into my body when I don’t practice: tense shoulders, a cranky spine, stiff neck, poor digestion and elimination, low energy and mood just to name a few! Yoga helps with all of these conditions and more.
Here in the 21st century we live in a stressful world. The stressors are all around, from sitting for long periods of time in chairs, driving in traffic, electromagnetic stress from cell phones and computers, taking in stressful images on television, and just observing the state of the world; what is happening economically, politically, socially and to the environment. All of this stress whether it is physical, mental or spiritual accumulates in our bodies. Yoga can very effectively help reduce the effects of stress on the body, mind and spirit.
Our neck is our connection between our heart and our head. Often they get tight and tense from sitting, stress, overuse, poor breathing habits, holding the world up on our shoulders, spending too much time living up in our heads and not in our hearts etc… There are many very simple stretching exercises that can be done to alleviate the discomfort of tense, tight muscles. Just taking a five minute break during the day can do a lot to release that stress and make you feel more relaxed and centered ready to face the next thing. Here is my favorite neck stretching routine.
Yoga postures are ancient and are designed to open the body and alleviate discomfort in the body so that you can sit comfortably for long periods of time in meditation. Different postures have different effects on the body, mind and spirit. It is helpful to have a basic idea of what each grouping of postures can do for you. Ideally you want a well rounded practice with all of the elements and each group practiced whether that is practicing each group in each session or one or two groups a session and balancing out the groups throughout the week.
Standing Postures help to build strength and endurance through out the whole body particularly in the legs. They help to increase the flexibility of the entire body again with an emphasis on the legs. They are a very good preparation for all the other postures. They can also help with balance and a feeling of being stable and grounded.
Balance Postures quite obviously help one gain balance, grace and poise while at the same time increasing strength and flexibility of the entire body. They are also a great aid in gaining focus. For in practicing them you have to be alert and present otherwise you will fall out. It can be instant feedback to what is happening in the mind.
