15/06/2025
Stressed? Get on the mat.
There are days, sometimes weeks, when my life gets busy. Unexpected deadlines or travel; which doesn’t allow regular sleeping hours. The usual diet is not available, I simply forget to drink enough water. I miss a few days of practice. I feel out of sorts.
I have to remind myself to drop the shoulders & relax my jaw.
When I get a moment to myself, I get on my mat.
Soft movements & mellow practice of my Asana routine, brings me back to my center. I am in control of my body again. There is mental clarity to make better decisions.
And I FEEL GOOD. Next day I get on the mat again & I feel better.
Stress is a trade off, for all the conveniences & excitement the modern life is supposed to bring.
Then there are personal challenges, sometimes the circumstances are sudden or unavoidable.
Stressor can be as minor as traffic on your way home or as global as the Geo politics of our times. It seems to be endless. Our minds and bodies are affected deeply regardless of the intensity of stress.
Medical research show that constant stress can lead to anxiety, depression, weakened immunity, cardiovascular issues, sleep disorders, & digestive issues.
If you suffer from headaches, muscle pain, chronic infections, inflammation, & cognitive impairment; then your body is telling you that you are stressed.
We are also socially conditioned to ‘keep going’ or ‘deal with it’. As a result some try to self medicate by drinking more coffee/alcohol or smoking or reaching for sugary treats or getting down time in front of a screen.
All of which can be counter productive.
We hold the stress tension in different parts of the body. Neck, shoulders, lower back, back of the legs, Eyes, chest.
Movement is the cure. Getting the blood flow to the parts of the body with attention and intention in the poses; releases stress.
It’s a daily maintenance for the body & mind.
Let’s try this, right now:
Raise your arms to the sky, look up & breath.
In through the nose & out through your mouth, 10 times.
Then look ahead & slowly lower your arms.
Feel better? Just in a minute you have shifted your energy.
That gentle braiding of breath & movement slowly melts the knots in our muscles, soothes the fascia. This reset allows us to leave the yesterday on the mat. We are better abled to face today.
So my dear friends, get your ‘FEEL GOOD’.
Feeling stressed? Get on the mat.
Start slow & simple, Do five head rolls, five shoulder rolls, spread your arms wide & open your chest.
And then do two Asanas (poses); only two.
If that’s all you can manage today, that’s okay.
If you feel better & want to stay on the mat longer then do two more Asanas.
You will find that you want to stay on the mat longer because you feel better. Slowly build your practice. Make it a happy habit.
Self care is important, you are important.
Bon practice
