Ahead of their online workshop ‘managing chronic stress using yoga techniques’, clinicians and triyoga teachers Rebekah and Anji share important insights on stress – the difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ stress, physical and mental effects, and ways to maintain wellbeing in the face of chronic stress. Sunday’s workshops will dive into these topics more deeply, providing students with valuable tools for daily stress management.
This week is International Stress Awareness Week. It is a yearly campaign but never has it felt as important as now for us all to take stock of how we are coping and caring for ourselves in such uncertain times.
Humans are designed to become stressed and some stress is good and can be motivational – our ancestors needed to run away from sabre-tooth tigers and move around for food. In the modern world, stress makes us get to work, take up a new challenge and make positive changes. We also experience stress after an impactful event such as the loss of a job or a relationship break-up. In an ideal situation, we bounce back quickly.
But longer-term stress could begin to impact our physical and mental health. What do we do when we find ourselves in a global crisis that last months or years?
The British ‘keep calm and carry on’ slogan might suggest the dash of resilience we all need to keep us rolling with the punches. Yet, it should never mean ‘grin and bear it’ at the expense of your own health.
This is a time to deeply listen into ourselves with great care and take gentle action to deal with how we really feel.
The ancient yogis knew that stress causes pain – both emotional and physical – it’s documented thoroughly in texts such as the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. These ancient maps can help us find more optimal health and can offer us a touchstone when we don’t know where to turn or what to do next. Practices can be practical and simple.
First we need to stop and appreciate how stress affects us. How do you feel right now, with lockdown two imminent and the winter wrapping its arms round us? Do you recognise feelings of overwhelm? Anxiety? Low mood? The effects of stress can be widespread – affecting your diet and digestive system, your sleep, brain function, memory and even joint pain.
It is essential that we find time for ourselves to recover, rest and restore. It is hard when we are scrambling to maintain livelihoods, run households and cope with this current situation. The practices of yoga can help to find this nourishment – for your physical body, your mental health and your spirit too. But it needs a regular practice.
A weekly triyoga class in your diary can help of course, but bite-size practices and adjustments here and there throughout your day could support wellbeing responses in body and mind:
- Take ten minutes to relax after lunch or before bedtime
- Notice when you are doing too much
- Make sure your diet is nourishing and supportive
- And of course, use your breath – the best tool we have – to reduce stress responses
The biggest challenge for all of us is becoming our own teacher and doing the practices at home. This is where we can help guide and support you. We know the obstacles that get in the way of prioritising ourselves. We are two clinicians and triyoga teachers who have long experience in osteopathy, persistent pain, mental health, yoga and yoga therapy – we are here to help.
We have joined forces and look forward to offering you an online workshop on Sunday 8th November 2020 at 1-3pm – join us to find out how yoga can help manage your stress. Suitable for all – no yoga experience required.
In the meantime, join all of us at triyoga for thebigbreathe.com on Friday 6th November at 12.00 GMT for a FREE 30 min breathing practice.
Rebekah Haybrown has been teaching yoga for over 15 years, and works as a yoga therapist and psychotherapist in private practice and for a NHS-funded charity counselling service. She has a holistic therapeutic approach which she adapts to the individual and class settings.
Anji Gopal is a registered osteopath and yoga teacher working in private practice and as a chronic low back pain clinician in the NHS. She brings her healthcare and clinical experience together with yoga to find deep change in health for her students and clients.
