Your stress level.
“Stress is as old as civilization itself. The ancient sages understood the impact on the mind and body of the turmoil of daily life. Yoga helps to detach the mind from this turmoil and allows you to face the effects of stress with equilibrium.” ~ BKS Iyengar
I have been planning this post for what seems like forever. I first thought about it when I started graduate school and now I’m 4 semesters deep. My yoga practice has become an important part of my stress reduction (and sanity) techniques. These pictures were taken over Christmas break from school and work at my parents lake house. When it’s too cold to practice by the water I move to the fire place. What wonderful parents I have.
Iyengar says:
“We experience stress from the moment of birth, and spend our lives adjusting to it. Some of us manage better than others for a variety of reasons. It could be because of one’s personality, environment, or one’s physical condition. But everyone has to deal with the effects of stress at some time or another, and in order to do so, he or she has to cultivate and discipline the mind, the physical body, psychological body, and spiritual body. We all evolve ways of coping with stress, checking and minimizing its effects with varying degrees of success. Yoga provides one of the most comprehensive and effective solutions to this problem…”
“Different people respond to the same stressful situation with different levels of intensity. Some may become angry, others confused or depressed, ultimately stress leads to disease, premature aging, or even fatal illness. The science of psychoneuroimmunology has established the connection between the body, mind, and emotions, but the ancient yogis recognized this a millennium ago. According to yogic science, the health of the psyche is reflected in the body. Psychological pressures stress all the systems of the body.”
“To reduce stress, the body and mind must be treated as one. The tension associated with stress is stored mainly in the muscles, the diaphragm, and the nervous system. If these areas are relaxed, stress is reduced. The organs of perception and the central nervous system also react physically to stress. Yogic methods of deep relaxation have a profound effect on all the body systems. When a part of the body is tense, blood flow to that area decreases, reducing immunity. Yoga works on that area to relieve tension and improve blood flow to the entire body, stabilizing the heart rate and blood pressure. Rapid, shallow breathing becomes deep and slow, allowing a higher intake of oxygen, and removing stress from the body and mind.”
How props help…
“A yoga prop is any object that helps to stretch, strengthen, relax, or improve the alignment of the body. It helps to sustain the practice of asanas for a longer duration, and conserves energy. These props allow asanas to be practiced in a relaxed way, balancing the body and mind actively as well as passively… The yoga asana practiced with props is unique in that it is the only form of exercise which allows both action and relaxation simultaneously. It activates the muscles, tones the body’s organs, and relieves undue mental and physical stress or strain. Props help to increase flexibility and stamina and, at the same time, relax slack and tired muscles. They help to rejuvenate the entire body, without increasing physical fatigue.”
Asana… The poses
Always warm up before practicing these poses. I like to practice 5 rounds of surya namaskara A & 5 rounds of surya namaskara B (sun salutations A & B, 5 rounds each) before I begin. Hold each pose for at least 5 deep breaths. Feel free to hold to supported poses (using blankets or bolsters) for 10-20 breaths. Stay in savasana as long as your body needs!
*As with most all of my posts with photos, the dog is optional, but highly recommended. She reduces my stress too.
Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana – mountain pose with arms stretched up
Utthita Trikonasana – Extended triangle pose
Utthita Parsvaknasana – Intense side stretch
Ardha Chandrasana – Half moon pose
Uttanasana – intense forward stretch
Prasarita Padottanasana – intense leg stretch
Adhomukha svanasana – downward facing dog stretch
Dandasana – staff pose
Virasana – hero pose
Urdhvamukha Janu Sirsasana – Upward-facing bent knee pose
Baddhakonasana – Fixed angle pose (aka butterfly)
Paripurna navasana – complete boat pose (supported)
Upavista konasana – seated wide-angle pose
Paschimottanasana – intense back stretch
Janu sirsasana – head on knee pose
Adhomukha virasana – downward facing hero pose
Parsva Virasana – side twist in the hero pose
Halasana – plough pose
Viparita karani – inverted pose (legs up the wall pose) (please excuse the old picture!)
Setubandha Sarvangasana – bridge pose
Ustrasana – camel pose
Supta padangusthasana – reclining leg, foot, and toe stretch
Supta Baddhakonasana – reclining fixed angle pose (reclining butterfly)
Supta virasana – reclining hero pose
Savasana – corpse pose
Happy journey,
.
Reference: all quotes and information come from “Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health” by BKS Iyengar
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