Yoga for stress management

Stress

In an age of a highly dynamic and competitive world, people are exposed to all kinds of stressors that affects them in all realms of life. Stress can affect one’s health, work performance, social life, and the relationship with family members. It is a silent killer and prolonged exposure to stress may exert harmful effects on physical, psychological, and behavioral well-being of an individual.

Effects Of Stress

Stress-related disorders evolve gradually through four recognizable stages. First, psychological changes such as anxiety, irritability and insomnia arise. The second stage symptoms are high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and increased intestinal motility surface. In the third stage, a more profound physical or biochemical imbalance sets in, while in the final fourth stage, irreversible symptoms that often require surgical or long-term management appear.

Yoga in Stress Management

There are many different ways to cope with stress. Talking with friends, exercising, and seeing a school counselor are just a few. Yoga can help reduce stress because it promotes relaxation, which is the natural opposite of stress. Yoga can benefit three aspects of ourselves that are often affected by stress: our body, mind, and breathing.

It is an effective method of managing and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Yoga, a form of mind-body exercise, has become an increasingly widespread therapy used to maintain wellness, and alleviate a range of health problems and ailments.

It is believed that yoga is so effective for stress relief because, aside from the physical benefits that yoga brings, it encourages a good mood, an increase in mindfulness, and a healthy dose of self-compassion. Yoga has many styles, forms and intensities. Hatha yoga, in particular, may be a good choice for stress management. Yoga reverses the negative impact of stress on the immune system by increasing levels of immunoglobulin A as well as natural killer cells.

Yoga can be wisely applied in welfare programs to improve the quality of life in all age groups. It is effective in relieving symptoms of mental illness including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Yogic science includes yogasanas (postures), pranayama (breathing practices), dhyana (meditation), and relaxation techniques which benefit human beings at every level which works as a booster in management of stress.