Stress Relief Through Yoga and Meditation

The word "Yoga" comes from Sanskrit meaning theand go deeper on allowing the letting go of stress and
union of the mind, body and spirit. Yoga and meditationtension.
go together very closely. So closely in fact that youThe most well-known pose for yoga is the Lotus pose.
cannot do Yoga without meditation. Yoga refers toMany people use this pose when practicing meditation.
meditation practices from Buddhism, Hinduism andIt requires a little bit of concentration and dexterity.
Jainism.There are two methods for the Lotus pose, the half
Aside from being a great exercise regime, yoga hasand the full.
major health benefits as well. One such benefit is thatThe difference between the half and the full Lotus
it is a great stress reliever. Stress hormones arepose is basically just the positioning of your legs. In the
released while performing eel got in blood pressurefull pose. You bring both feet above your legs, sitting
and heart rate are decreased greatly.across like a fashion. Whereas in the half lotus pose,
Yoga is one exercise that can be performed by anyonly one foot is above your leg and the other is under
age, any level and in many various forms. There isthe opposite leg.
regular yoga where you can stand and performed theAn example of a typical yoga stretch for sore neck
stretches, as well as chair yoga for those that want tomuscles would be as follows.
participate in stretches and stress relief at the office.Sitting in the lotus position mentioned above, sit with
For some people Yoga is for than just an exercise, it isyour back straight and looking forward. While exhaling,
a religious practice giving spiritual enlightenment, while inlower your chin to your chest. Perform this move five
the meditative state. Yoga allows you to have practicetimes and on the fifth time, hold it for three breaths.
body control, muscle control and helps to tone theNow with your head centered perform the same
body.steps as above, but instead of lowering your chin to
In traditional restorative yoga classes, the practice ofyour chest lower your right ear to your right shoulder.
holding traditional yoga poses for longer periods ofThen perform the stretch on the left ear to the left
time. This allows the individual to get the breath right,shoulder.