Practice Yoga and Meditation to Alleviate Stress During the Holidays

Practice Yoga and Meditation to Alleviate Stress During the Holidays
 
     Stress is a year-round fact-of-life, but your stress levels can increase during the holidays. Why do people feel extra stress during the holidays? I mean, it happens every year, we should all be prepared. Right? Wrong! The most common reasons people feel extra stress is:

•    Lack of time
•    Lack of money
•    Pressure to give or get gifts

      Stress is your body’s reaction to change, good and bad. Chronic stress can negatively affect your health.  Yoga and Meditation can ward off stress and help your body fight disease. There is an old Zen proverb and it goes something like this, “If you don’t have time to mediate for an hour every day, you should meditate for two.” That sounds like ridiculous advice but the sentiment is there. It is saying you need to make time to take care of yourself, especially when you don’t have the time. How about you start off with a yoga class or two a week and mediate for five minutes daily. You will see these benefits:

• Lower resting heart rate
• Relaxed muscles
• Improved digestion
• Tempered emotional responses
• Built-up Immune system
• Lower pain levels
• Reduced depression and anxiety

     Who doesn't want to improve how they feel? Let me know if you don't, I can do a full interview and add you to my list  of crazy (emphasis on the crazy) character profile designs for one of my upcoming books. My advice is that you instead, find a class to your local yoga studio or gym to help you manage your stress during the holidays. You will feel so good (although possibly a little achy at first), you will not want to give it up.

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