Welcome to our guest blogger, yoga teacher, Laura Nicholson of The Balanced Space.
Here, Laura gives us insight how to take practical steps to reshape our response to stress so we can bring ourselves back to calm, healthy equilibrium.
Let's talk about stress. Yes, that overwhelming, all-consuming feeling that often sneaks into all areas of our lives.
If you're juggling work, family, errands, deadlines, and just life really, the daily hustle and bustle can feel intense. We can't make the stress and strain of life magically disappear, but we can manage our response to it.
Stress, Cortisol, and the Body
Cortisol, AKA the "stress hormone," is a vital hormone that your body makes to regulate things like blood sugar, metabolism, wake-sleep cycle and, of course, the body's stress response. When life piles on the stress, cortisol levels skyrocket. Short-term, that's not a big deal because it's your body's way of preparing you for potentially dangerous situations. But when stress becomes chronic, high cortisol levels have damaging effects.
You see, when life was stripped back our cortisol would kick into action when we were under threat, allowing us to run faster, take in more oxygen, pump more blood to our vital organs and muscles, etc. But in today's world, cortisol reacts to everything and anything - it's either on or off. There is no middle ground, so when it comes to screaming kids and back-to-back meetings, it tells our bodies that we are in danger. The reality is we aren't, and we need to learn techniques to calm the mind and body to combat that.
Long-term high cortisol levels has your body stuck in "fight or flight" mode 24/7, and it can lead to all sorts of issues—weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, and even heart issues.
Yoga, Our Stress-Buster
Yoga is your ticket to reigning in that out-of-control stress hormone as it allows you to tap into your parasympathetic nervous system, nature's antidote to cortisol's stressful grip. When we flow through yoga postures and breathe deeply, we send a clear message to our bodies—it's time to unwind. The parasympathetic nervous system, often called the "rest and digest" system, takes charge. As it gains control, heart rates drop, breathing becomes slower, and muscles relax, helping our bodies truly rest.
Sneaking mindfulness and yoga into our daily routines to tackle stress is a quick and easy way to stay in control throughout the day. Starting your day with some gratitude or dream journaling can help to create focus or intent for your day. Taking moments to focus on your breath in your lunch break, walking to connect with nature and doing some gentle stretching can give you a midday reset. Ending your day with restorative bedtime yoga can help you unwind and improve your sleep.
Carving out time for you
You're likely a mum, a partner, a friend, a working woman, or all of the above! The point is you wear many hats and are probably the glue that holds everything together. And you can't do all of that without taking the time to recharge your batteries; carving out some self-care or “me time” each week will help you achieve this.
Building mindful practices into your day, connecting with others and doing what makes you feel good is how you reconnect with yourself, find your inner peace, and tackle life with a smile.
Friday De-Stress
Our studio offers a range of yoga and meditation classes with mindfulness and stress management at the core to support you in learning the techniques that can calm your mind and body. My Friday De-stress class helps you unwind from a busy week, stretch out tight shoulders from desk work and includes relaxation to melt away any mental tension.
Take a deep breath, roll out that mat, and let's tackle cortisol levels together.
Find out more about stress busting yoga classes here.
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