Yoga

Yoga is not just a collection of workouts to keep the body flexible and healthy but it’s a way of life adapted by Ancient Indian Gurus to balance mind, body and spirit and to maintain harmony between mind, body and nature. Yoga was used in ancient India as a mean to enlightenment. And it is still practiced in many parts of the world for different purposes like moving closer to god by attaining wisdom and for attainment of liberation from the cycle of life.

Stress

From doctors point of view stress is a response to strong external changes that affects us. Stress can be positive or negative like getting married and performing badly in an exam. But you should remember that these two opposite stress do not cancel each other, they both can have major impact on our body. Short term effects includes increasing heart rate, blood pressure etc while results in long term illness like heart problems and stroke.

Yoga and stress management

Like you read above, yoga has much higher purpose then just being used as some workout routine. But if you are busy and really cannot find time for regular yoga sessions then you can practice it in your home and office at any time to relieve pain and stress without any risks.

Relaxation is a state of mind where you are calm, fresh and free from stress and yoga can help your attain that state much faster. Yoga also helps you stay in that state much longer.

Some of the yoga asanas (pose) that are effective for stress management are:

• Pranayama
• Bhastrika
• Sudarshan Kriya

All these are different forms of deep breathing exercises and my favorite is Sudarshan Kriya by Sri Sri Ravishankar. My choice may be biased given the fact that I have been practicing Sudarshan Kriya from last 5 years and have attained couple of workshops organized by Sri Sri Ravishankar himself.

Finally I would like to end this small post of mine by saying that you should find at least 1 hour everyday from your daily routine to take care of your body because in the end you will only have your body. The best way to practice yoga is from a guru but if you don't have that much time and money then join a small course and then supplement it with a good book or video.

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