The body has a stress response for a reason. Humans evolved in nature surrounded by many dangers and needed a mechanism to respond to external threats. Imagine yourself in an open plain looking at a tiger in front of you. What would you need to survive? You need to be able to run away as quickly as possible. You wouldn’t want to stop to pee or eat. You need to see far to find a place of safety. Our sympathetic system filled the needs our ancestors had, and it still remains with us today. The dangers we face might not be a tiger about to eat us, but we still have the same response - a negative stress response increasing sympathetic activity and cortisol levels. And no matter what the stressor is, it has the same physical response.
In a study published in 2015, 77% percent of people reported that they regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress. Physical symptoms can include fatigue, headache, upset stomach, muscle tension, digestive problems, changes in sex drive and feeling dizzy. In the same study, they found that 73% of people have stress that impacts their mental health. Some psychological symptoms include feeling like you can cry, anxiety, anger, and overall lack of energy.
Chronic stress is the underlying cause of many diseases. Hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, Lupus, eczema, diabetes mellitus, fatigue, and insomnia are just a few. Even the brain is affected by stress. Dementia and shrinking brain size are linked to stress in the body. In 2008, a review of stress found it to be a contributing factor to six leading causes of death in the United States: cancer, coronary heart disease, accidental injuries, respiratory disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.
The best thing yoga does for your body is to reduce stress. Yoga is linked to reduced stress. This is why you can find an article about how yoga is so good for this or that condition. If you can reduce your stress, your body has less inflammation and can function better. Not all yoga classes are the same. In a small group study, there was a significant difference between meditative (such as many classes taught at Dogwood) and Power yoga. Results indicate that 30 minutes of meditative yoga decreases stress, while power yoga does not impart a significant stress-relieving benefit. Meditation and breathing exercises calm down the mind. Asanas tone and stimulate the parasympathetic system. A well rounded yoga practice is designed to help you do both. You learn to connect to the breath and move the body in targeted ways to release tension and activate our parasympathetic system.
The pandemic has been a huge source of stress for everyone. Luckily, we are starting to be able to do some of the things we enjoy like yoga in person. In Person classes are slowly starting. Dogwood will have some in person classes in May at a wonderful historic venue, with plenty of parking and small class sizes.
For the latest schedule on the website, click HERE.
Aviva Tulasi is a registered yoga instructor (RYT) who is currently enrolled in a IYAT certified 800 hour yoga therapy program. You can join Aviva for a chanting workshop in June or meet with her privately for free as part of her practicum hours.
SAM Sather, a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online class in yoga as well as weekly recorded On Demand classes. SAM also offers private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.