The "do nothing" yoga
Yoga is well-known for the flexibility it promotes, but the meditative and relaxation qualities are also beneficial. If the twists and turns of traditional yoga methods don't appeal to you, you could try yoga nidra -- a style that focuses solely on the meditative side. Also known as yogic sleep, yoga nidra involves lying very still and listening to meditative instructions. Fans of yoga nidra report better stress management and sounder sleep. So what exactly does it involve? Yoga nidra classes are usually 20-45 minutes long. Participants lie comfortably on their back and listen to a series of instructions including focusing on a goal, and focusing on awareness of each part of the body. Participants are also encouraged to think of a situation or emotion that is difficult and then think of its opposite.
While yoga nidra obviously doesn't have the physical benefits of more traditional yoga, the mind-body connection and stress-relieving aspects can be so beneficial for the body and spirit.
My son is adopted. While he is kind, incredibly smart, athletic, and way too funny for words, there are some traits which don't come naturally for him. He has little to no empathy for others and doesn't have much compassion either. His lack of those traits comes directly from his birth mom's bad choices while pregnant with him and the traumas and inconsistencies he endured during his first 10 years of life. (I adopted him shortly after his 10th birthday). Teaching him to be empathetic and compassionate is a part of my everyday life. I take every example I can to point out others' emotions in an effort to have him start recognizing others' feelings. It's something that will likely take years and years to teach and will probably never be a natural, instinctive reaction for my son. He has a heart of gold, though... I just have to help learn to bring that out more often.
A lot of people may not buy into the zen-like approach to medicine and meditation. It can seem a little hokey to some. However, while they believe meditation can lend itself to dealing with chronic pain sufferers, elderly citizens are not usually the ones to drop down on a yoga mat every week.
Everyone has their exercise preference. Some people like to run, others enjoy swimming, and others still like to lift weights. Some people do all three or something entirely different. Whatever the choice, I'm sure it's a healthy one. But as as far blood pressure reduction goes, it seems that yoga may be among the best choices.
FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.
It's no surprise to hear that meditation can reduce stress if performed religiously, but how long does it take for the good results to show up?
Famous for her lineage (she is Ernest Hemingway's Granddaughter) and for appearing in several movies and TV shows over the years,
Do you meditate? It's a good way to relieve your mind of the hustle and bustle of a normal day, and can relieve stress like few other activities. Or, maybe not.
In this busy world of ours, it's sometimes hard to calm your mind, to just let go after a long day at the office, running errands, or chasing kids. How do you find peace of mind when you're stressed out?
It seems like we're hearing a lot about napping at work lately, dare we hope it's the beginning of a soon-to-be widely accepted practice? I highly doubt it, but that doesn't mean you can't still try it every once in awhile (discreetly, of course!) to rejuvenate and refresh yourself so you get more done.
If you're looking to improve your focus and train your brain to filter out passing distractions then meditation may be able to help you do that. Recent research from the University of Wisconsin Madison shows that intensive 
Stress is an extremely subjective term, and an extremely subjective feeling. It doesn't mean the same thing to different people, as everybody reacts to life in their own way. So since there's no across the board "cure," the best tool you have for dealing with stress is learning how to relax, for yourself, and the faster you can do that the better.
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