Yoga helps control stress: Shanthala T Medappa

I believe deeply in the healing and rejuvenating power of hatha yoga. It has been and continues to be a wonderful journey. For me, yoga is a way of life. It’s not just asan as (physical postures) or pra nayama (yogic breathing) that we generally tend to associate yoga with. What we practice on the mat is just 20 per cent of yoga, I would say. Yoga is how you conduct yourself off the mat too. Apart from that, I would broadly classify my practice into Swami Sivananda’s five points: 

Yoga asanas are considered proper exercise because there is a certain structure as to how one asana flows into another. The focus is on exercising your spine equally on all sides so that it remains flexible, strong and youthful. You are as young or old as your spine is. 

Start by learning to use your full lung capacity and focus on the right breathing technique. Through your breath, you can  control your mind. 

Stress is nothing but an over-active mind. It is the practice of yoga nidra or guided relaxation, where you are slowly calming your senses. 

Your diet should be a balanced diet of freshly cooked food. It could be fresh fruits, vegetables or dairy. They provide all essential nutrients. Do not have anything in excess or deficit. 

This aspect of yoga is most difficult to achieve. But with regular practice of meditation, knowledge and practise of yamas and niyamas , one can learn to control the mind to an extent. 

All these five aspects of yoga put together forms your complete practice. In the coming weeks, we will explore each of these aspects in details. 

With stress getting more intense by the day in urban centres, we need it more than ever before. Every ailment in your body is triggered by stress and if we can learn to control stress to some extent, then why not! 

Yoga as we know now is tried, tested and proven to be one of the most effective ways of handling physical and emotional stress. The benefits of regular practice of yoga are innumerable. But will sign off here until the next time. Om Shanti!