YOGA FOR CHEERINESS
Our cheeriness can be dependent on our health and well-being. Our health is vital to our well-being. As Yoga is a way of calming the mind, strengthening the body, and balancing the emotions, it may also be said then that Yoga can be good for cheeriness, or as the heading to this Blog says “Yoga For Cheeriness.”
As our health is vital to our well-being and of course, being dependent on our genes, it is also greatly affected by the amount of stress we are under. This in turn, can be reflected by the foods we eat, whether we exercise regularly and whether we relax, rest, sleep and socialise all in moderation.
Our Fight and Flight Response
Modern day living seems to create more pressure for us to live under, which can have a huge impact on our stress levels. When living in a tense state our body responds in a certain way, called the “flight or fight” response. Over a longer period of time, it is this that has a detrimental effect on our overall health, our body, our mind and our emotions – upsetting our body / mind connection and our body’s natural balance.
When we are this way, it is our nervous system that reacts first by telling the hormonal glands in the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary glands), to inform the adrenal glands to produce the hormone adrenalin. Other sympathetic nerves in the body secrete nor-adrenalin, at the same time – with other hormones being secreted directly into the blood stream. In short, this is the beginning of the body being fuelled for action, to deal with the threat, (the feeling that caused the stress), or to run away from it. So one’s heart rate increases, breathing becomes fast and shallow, blood pressure is raised, metabolism is faster as adrenalin and cortisol rush through the body., yourself, as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
Calming Down A Little
These actions are to name but a few, in the way we react to the flight or fight response. Even when we calm down a little it is often not back to a relaxed state but to a state of simmering stress. Too much of this stress for too long suppresses our defence mechanism, our immune system, leaving us more open and vulnerable to minor ailments or even disease. It would therefore be much healthier if we could recognise that to be stressed when necessary is acceptable but that we need to learn how to return to a relaxed state. It would be a far better option if we were to be the master of the controls of our body by making wise choices in certain areas of our life. In that way we can give ourselves a longer, healthier and happier life.
How Can Yoga Help Our Well-being?
Yoga can help in many ways, especially Hatha Yoga practice, which involves learning how to relax, breathe well, exercise safely, strengthen self-discipline and eat well. Yoga is a way of calming the mind, strengthening the body, and balancing the emotions.
It gives a sense of well-being and a sense of belonging to, or connecting to life. It originated in India more than four thousand years ago and ever since it began, many have gained benefit from its practice.
Yoga can help us live longer, healthier and happier lives
First Experiences Of Hatha Yoga
Most of us come to yoga firstly as ‘Hatha Yoga’ practitioners and are introduced to it as a type of physical keep-fit system. Many people are unaware that yoga isn’t only about postures and deep breathing. Yoga offers lots of different ways to practice and all the diverse forms of yoga have just one aim and that is to gain skills that create a state of ‘self-realisation or self-understanding’. Gaining ‘self- awareness’ keeps us healthier and happier on every level of our being, including our cheeriness.
Hatha Yoga focuses mainly on the body, involving breathing, posture work and relaxation. It is, however only one of the pathways to ‘self- knowledge’.
What Does Hatha Yoga Consist Of?
Hatha Yoga consists of:
Postures (asanas) to stretch and tone muscles whilst exercising each part of the body either gently or difficult to improve physical health.
Breathing Exercises (Pranayama) to quieten the mind and calm the emotions
Relaxation and Meditation to increase mental alertness encouraging a positive and peaceful frame of mind.
Most other yoga practices do not include as much physical exercise. For example, raja yoga teaches mainly sitting meditation, jnana yoga involves self-investigation, karma yoga requires selfless service and bhakti yoga includes ways to celebrate life such as chanting.
Today yoga is still practiced by millions of people throughout the world. There are many different forms, schools and pathways, with hundreds of masters or gurus all teaching their own interpretations of the ancient yogic teachings.
What Yoga Is Good For
Yoga then can help increase self-confidence, lifting low mood/depression, tiredness, up-tightness, feelings of anxiety or stress and insomnia, whilst assisting other complaints such as digestive disorders (IBS, or physical complaints (backache). Any age, ability or state of health can benefit.
How I Can Help As A Hatha Yoga Teacher
I am a dedicated and caring Yoga Teacher who offers a handful of classes per week here at the Yoga Lodge. I am also a Senior Accredited Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. If you think Hatha Yoga would aid your health, and your cheeriness, then come and give it a go at and begin your journey to a greater sense of self by making contact.
Email: pavana@theyogalodge.org.uk
Mob: 07973 410375
www.theyogalodge.org.uk
