Practice Yoga and Meditation: Experience Transformation from In and Out
Life can be taxing with our never-ending busy and stressful schedules. Since the ongoing pandemic, stress has increased two-fold. Most of us are helpless, unclear, and uncertain about what's happening around us and how to cope-up with this built-up stress and tension.
Even though most of us might be working from home, the constant worrying and the stress does not go away. Our minds are rather jarred with uncomplacent thoughts.
Yoga and Meditation, for ages, have been thought of being the mediators of relieving stress and calming one's own body, mind, and soul. Not just this, there have been ancient and modern proven benefits of Yoga and Meditation.
1. Reducing Stress.
The current scenario and the pandemic have not only taken a toll on our minds but also the body. The uncertainty that comes with possible job losses and salary cuts have left us in a dilemma. It is imperative for us to thus align our chakras and focus on ourselves for a minute! Take time out for yourself. Even 10 minutes at your favorite and secluded spot in your house, just sit up straight. Focus. Meditate. Feel yourself releasing the negative energy and listen to your inner self. Relieve...
2. Lowering Blood Pressure.
Stress tends to heighten the internal pressure thus leading to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a condition that should be taken seriously. It is a disease, if not taken care of, can lead to heat-attacks and strokes. With Yoga and Meditation, you can calm your nerves by focusing on your internal self through deep breathing. Certain postures such as Supported Bridge Pose, Legs Up The Wall Pose, and of course Savasana or Corpse Pose are particularly beneficial for those with high blood pressure.
3. Healthy Joints.
Working from home and sitting at your desk or bed or couch (our favorite place to do everything!) without moving an inch has definitely caught your joints in a fix. Even though these might be the most comfortable places for you to sit and work and chill, it WILL make you grow older soon. How? Synovial fluid delivers fresh oxygen and nutrients to the joint cartilage, helping to restore it and keep it healthy. If you sit in a particular position for long hours, your joints will cut-off the flow of the fluid thus leading to trapped air-bubbles (this is why when you crack your knuckles, the popping sound is the sound of those trapped bubbles releasing). Yoga will strengthen the muscles around the joints that you have locked, helping to stabilize them. By moving the joints in their full range of motion the mobilization of the joints improves the flow of synovial fluid, which lubricates them, allowing for smooth and healthy movement of the bones.
4. Promote Sleep Quality.
Working from home, cooking yourself, cleaning yourself (all-in-all, being "aatma-nirbhar")? No wonder our sleep cycle has gone for a toss! Studies have shown that since Yoga and Meditation help in relieving stress, anxiety and, controlling high blood pressure, you tend
to fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and feel more well-rested in the morning than usual. Since yoga and meditation have shown to increase the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness, it has a significant effect on anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and stress — all common contributors to sleep problems.
5. Relieves Migraines and Headaches.
You might be a banker, a lawyer, a student, or even a teacher; your screen time has definitely gone up. Working from home has increased our screen time leading to constant headaches, paining eyes, and even mild migraines (if you've never had them). Traditionally, we have always popped a pill or two as and when we have a headache. However, increasing evidence shows that yoga and meditation could be a useful adjunct therapy to help reduce migraine frequency. It gives you time to be free from any screen that you are exposed to and helps you stimulate the vagus nerve, which is effective in relieving migraines and headaches.
These definitely are a few benefits that might coax you to take a few minutes out for yourself from your busy and taxing schedules. In the beginning, it might be difficult to center your attention and focus but starting-off with a few minutes every day or a few days a week will definitely help you see noticeable changes. Incorporating it into your routine can help improve your health, reduce symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.
