Stress & Anxiety: Natural Solutions
Do you feel over-whelmed, have trouble sleeping, burnt out, find it hard to relax?
We can all experience stress in our lives often on a daily basis. Usually we are well able to adapt to stress and even need positive stress (Eustress) to motivate us. However prolonged periods of stress can cause pronounced/striking physical, emotional experiences. These experiences may create changes in our perception of ‘the world’. For example, feeling anxious can create an overwhelming sense of foreboding and over time our attitudes and beliefs may change as a result. Ongoing stress and anxiety can impact upon our mood and our general well-being.
Signs of stress and feelings of anxiety can sometimes feel as though these feelings and experiences dominate our lives, and can make us feel helpless. Thankfully yoga can help! Research studies looking into the impact of yoga on the stress-response, have suggested that yoga may condition the nervous system to find flexibility and find balance, which encourages greater resilience to future stressors. A study concluded that yoga provides promising evidence that a yoga practice can prepare you to meet life’s challenges, not just recover from them (Streeter et al 2012).
Do you feel over-whelmed, have trouble sleeping, burnt out, find it hard to relax?
We can all experience stress in our lives often on a daily basis. Usually we are well able to adapt to stress and even need positive stress (Eustress) to motivate us. However prolonged periods of stress can cause pronounced/striking physical, emotional experiences. These experiences may create changes in our perception of ‘the world’. For example, feeling anxious can create an overwhelming sense of foreboding and over time our attitudes and beliefs may change as a result. Ongoing stress and anxiety can impact upon our mood and our general well-being.
Signs of stress and feelings of anxiety can sometimes feel as though these feelings and experiences dominate our lives, and can make us feel helpless. Thankfully yoga can help! Research studies looking into the impact of yoga on the stress-response, have suggested that yoga may condition the nervous system to find flexibility and find balance, which encourages greater resilience to future stressors. A study concluded that yoga provides promising evidence that a yoga practice can prepare you to meet life’s challenges, not just recover from them (Streeter et al 2012).
“The release from fear is what finally precipitates the full flowering of love. In this state you will love what you see in others, and others will love you for having been seen. This is the softened perception of the world that yoga promotes.”
Erich Schiffman, yoga Teacher and Author
Yoga has many benefits that can help someone experiencing low energy, burn-out and anxiety:
* Reduce the effects of stress
* Release tension from the body - through the breath and postures* oxygenate the tissues, thus giving more energy
* Calm the sympathetic branch of the nervous system and switch on the parasympathetic (rest/digest) branch of the nervous system relaxation
* Improve mental focus, clarity
* Helps to reduce' brain fog'
* Befriend the body - occupying the body as a safe place to exist
* Improve circulation (to the brain and other parts of the body)
* Stimulate the function of internal organs of the body
* Regulate irregular breathing patterns such as hyperventilation, or shallow breathing associated with stress and tension
* Create a sense of harmony and well being. Yoga helps to balancing the mind, physical body, emotions and the spirit
* Become more self aware and learn to listen into to body and responding to it's needs and cues
Yoga Research into the Stress-Response
Yoga helps reduce sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) activity and increase parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) (rest and digest) activity. Boston University researchers propose that underactive GABA and PNS systems underlie a wide variety of disorders of stress exacerbating disorders including epilepsy, depression, PTSD and chronic pain. They assert that yoga practices incorporating deep breathing techniques may be particularly effective in relieving the symptoms of these types of disorders.
A 12-week trial which found significant reductions in a pro-inflammatory cytokine and significant increases in an anti-inflammatory cytokine suggested yoga has anti-inflammatory effects. Yoga reduces blood flows to the fear centre of the brain and increases activation of the frontal cortex. Yoga may also be able to reduce oxidative stress and increase glutathione activity. Military personnel exhibited decreased levels of oxidative stress and increased glutathione metabolism after a year-long yoga trial.
Private 1-2-1 Yoga For Stress & Anxiety Sessions
A private session can be tailored to your specific needs, whether you may be experiencing one or more of the following problems in your everyday life: stress, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (such as an experience of a traumatic birth), panic attacks, ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia or insomnia and attending a class just doesn't suit your needs.
Typically a session would be between 60 to 75 minutes long. Sessions are accessible to everybody regardless of physical ability or experience of yoga. A short series of sessions may be appropriate for a variety of needs or specific needs and goals - a sliding scale is available when needed and discounts are available when signing up for 4 or more classes..
Yoga Medicine sessions are available at The Nailsworth Natural Health Clinic, Nailsworth, and The Yoga Tula Studio, Stonehouse.
I contacted Nikki regarding some restorative yoga as I went through a traumatic bereavement and relocation. I have regularly used yoga and other holistic methods as support, but because I had to remove myself from life for quite a few months, the treatment I had with Nikki was needed to aid my recovery. Nikki's approach is so genuine and she has amazing knowledge and a gentle spiritual depth that truly makes you feel heard, your feelings are taken seriously and without judgement. BS
The yoga for ME sessions are great. I have done loads of yoga previously but, since struggling with fatigue and pain I have had to stop going to other classes as I simply didn't have the stamina, or ended up making my back pain worse. Its no fun going to a class and having to sit out too many of the postures. I now leave a session feeling refreshed rather than depleted. In particular the restorative poses, and eclectic approach, such as Yoga Nidra/mindfulness have also been beneficial. " Sally
Skype Yoga & Homeopathy Sessions
If you feel it may be challenging to attend 1-2-1 sessions or you have a busy schedule, Skype sessions offer you more flexibility and you may also benefit from practicing in comfort of your own home.
This session involves using Homeopathic remedies to treat underlying emotions and beliefs and Yoga postures and breath techniques will be used in partnership to develop deep healing, I have named this powerful fusion 'Energy Medicine'. These revolutionary tools can help to create the ideal conditions to relieve tension and stress and invite deep relaxation, stillness and peace.. Deep relaxation nurtures and vitalises the body and guides the body to restore and renew. You will learn to cultivate trust (befriend) your body once again.
If you feel it may be challenging to attend 1-2-1 sessions or you have a busy schedule, Skype sessions offer you more flexibility and you may also benefit from practicing in comfort of your own home.
This session involves using Homeopathic remedies to treat underlying emotions and beliefs and Yoga postures and breath techniques will be used in partnership to develop deep healing, I have named this powerful fusion 'Energy Medicine'. These revolutionary tools can help to create the ideal conditions to relieve tension and stress and invite deep relaxation, stillness and peace.. Deep relaxation nurtures and vitalises the body and guides the body to restore and renew. You will learn to cultivate trust (befriend) your body once again.
Yoga For Stress & Anxiety: 6 week course
You will learn tools that can help you to re-balance the nervous system and create the ‘relaxation response’. You will experience techniques that will include pranayama (breath work), asana (postures), and relaxation.
We ask you to commit to the 6 week sessions when booking the course so that you can experience the benefits of regular sessions.
This is a 6 week course starting on:
Venue: Yoga Tula Studio, Stonehouse (The venue is a welcoming and nurturing space)
You will learn tools that can help you to re-balance the nervous system and create the ‘relaxation response’. You will experience techniques that will include pranayama (breath work), asana (postures), and relaxation.
We ask you to commit to the 6 week sessions when booking the course so that you can experience the benefits of regular sessions.
This is a 6 week course starting on:
Venue: Yoga Tula Studio, Stonehouse (The venue is a welcoming and nurturing space)
Nicki's workshop gave me the space and time to breathe, slow down and re-discover some peace and calm in my busy mind"
These classes have been extremely beneficial for me going through a particularly busy and stressful time at the Moment. Nic has really made it so enjoyable and I have so much to take away and use in my daily life. A very well balanced and insightful series of classes overall that I will miss".