Be Better at Handling Stress

Becoming fit and flexible can help you to better manage stress in both body and mind.

What is Fitness?

I used to hear the word fitness and an image of Jane Fonda or Arnold Swarzenegger would pop into my head.  After years of living a fit and healthy life as a yogini the images that come to mind are, now, very different.  My perception of fitness includes more than physical appearance.  I define fitness as: overall wellbeing.  I strive to feel fit in body, energy, and mind.

Mindful Fitness

My day begins with a mindful focus practice.  Either the sun or my alarm wake me each morning.  I prop myself up to a seated position and begin.  I mindfully focus upon a mantra (sound vibration practice) while setting an intention for the day.  I like to do this practice in the morning before I actively engage in the world because it is the time during which my mind is most clear and my body is naturally relaxed.

The rest of my day is driven by the intention I set.  It is guiding me throughout my day as a reminder to keep practicing with care for myself and awareness.  I think about it while I move around, sit at my desk, teach others, take a walk, eat, etc.  Sometimes I forget, or get distracted, but as soon as I catch myself I get right back to my practice.

Mindful Flexibility

I've been known to call out practitioners who rely on mobility instead of strength to access postures.  There is a delicate balance between flexibility and strength that, when found, provides us with deeper access to our selves.  To be overly mobile can result in injury just as being overly strong can do the same. 

Consider your parents.  Possibly, one was very strict and the other less so.  When my parents divorced my Dad became the strict one, while my Mom became more flexible with the rules.  The imbalance allowed me the opportunity to break rules and push limits that I never would have had they remained together.  In your body and mind the same imbalances are present.  It's up to you to identify and address them.

Stress Less

As one of my clients recently said, "It's nice to take an hour to do something for myself and to get away from work."  It's easy to become rigid in our work schedules, weaken our self care, and too flexible when it comes to indulging.

One way to engage in self care and create balance is Yoga.  It helps to reduce rigidity, build strength, and manage mobility.  Allowing an hour of time to engage in self care during a Yoga practice can have a significant impact.  Embedded in that hour is more than movement.  The combination of intentional posturing, directed breathing, mindful movement, and guided focus can transform your perception; it can shift the way you in which you engage in the rest of the day.  

Fit & Flexible

If you could set one intention for the rest of your day, week, month, what would it be?  Try beginning your day with this intention in mind - use it to help you feel fit.  Allow it to lead you as you live, work, eat, engage, and experience the world.

Consider the things about which you are rigid/strict/stuck, etc. and, in compliment, in which ways are you are too willing to be flexible or "go with the flow."  How can you bring these ideas into balance?

Engage in self care; practice, play outside, create, explore.  An hour a day is more powerful than you think.  

Simple changes create significant effects.  Practice becoming fit and flexible to reduce stress and feel more balanced.

Jenay guides Private Therapeutic Yoga Practices that focus upon your specific needs.  To learn more or to begin developing your fitness and flexibility visit: ​https://www.therealignmentcoach.com/