Just for a moment, close your eyes and picture the scenic views of an ocean. What does it feel like to you?
Chances are it's peaceful, tranquil and picturesque blue.
Now let me paint a different picture.
A scene filled with torrential rain hailing down from the dark thundery sky, waves crashing fiercely and in the distance of the stormy water, you see the distress lights signalling through the currents of tidal waves flying over a fishing trawler.
Your heart rate rises, breathing becomes faster, more oxygen floods through your body, you feel confused, irrational even and can't instantly decide the best action to take.
- Your attention is distracted
- You can't hold your concentration
- You struggle to make a rational decision in the heat of the moment.
Welcome to Your Autonomic Nervous System
If this is taught in school, I couldn't have been listening that day. If you weren't either, listen up...
It's made of two parts.
- The Sympathetic Nervous System
- The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS)
My take: The Sympathetic Nervous System kicks in when you care. The PSNS to me means I couldn't care less.
In truth, it's your relaxation response and that's controlled by the Vagus Nerve.
Without boring you with a lesson on human anatomy, the Vagus nerve is responsible for the following:
- Slowing down your breathing
- Reducing your heart rate
- Lowering your blood pressure
- Stimulates your digestive system
Each of those above will benefit you. From panic attacks, to weight loss, you're about to discover the one breathing technique that lets you tap into your Parasympathetic Nervous System for instant stress relief.
Ujjayi Breathing with Chair Yoga to Manage Your Stress Healthily
Ujjayi breathing is simply inhaling and exhaling through your nose. The technique is done using your diaphragm.
Every breath is done with equal duration and you're always in control.
If you struggle to inhale for five seconds, then reduce it to a couple of seconds. Just make sure it's a one-two on the inhale, and a one-two on the exhale so that the breathing is equal both in and out.
It works great with chair yoga, as you have the support there to keep your back straight, and the different poses help to open your airways more and get the circulation moving better.
There's no stress put on any part of your body.
Just one minute with any of the many chair yoga poses will instantly calm your mind.
Do you think you need to be flexible to do chair yoga?
Try this...
Take a seat, sit up straight, relax your shoulders, chest, and let your stomach relax, as if you're just letting all flop to your feet.
Take a deep and slow breath in from your diaphragm, feel the oxygen move up through your body, and then exhale slowly for the same time you done when you inhaled.
That's the breathing element of chair yoga.
Now all you have to do is combine the Ujjayi breathing with these chair yoga poses, and you'll soon be a master at using chair yoga for stress relief whenever you feel the need to. Just visit http://www.squidoo.com/benefits-of-chair-yoga to learn how
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robbie_Bowman
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