Got Stress? Try This...
Many times, we have heard clinic staff, providers and even patients say they are stressed. Maybe even friends and family have expressed that they feel tired, sluggish and have a general lack of enthusiasm. Everyone knows that exercise can help but when do you find time to exercise? Sheila Johnson of WellSheila has some suggestions that may help. You don’t have to be a yoga enthusiast or even someone who has tried yoga in order to benefit from these 5 tips.
By Sheila Johns, Contributing Writer
Working in the healthcare industry is stressful no matter your niche or area of expertise. But incorporating yoga into your everyday life can help ease your stress, boost your activity level, and help you feel refreshed for your next shift.
Yoga can be restorative, relaxing, and a challenging workout. But if you’ve fallen into a bit of a rut, it might be time to explore ways to launch your practice to the next level. From incorporating tools into your routine to trying out new technology or equipment, there’s so much you can do to boost your yoga program, even as a busy healthcare professional.
Enlist Expert Help to Get Started
Whether you’re new to yoga or want to learn more advanced poses, getting expert advice may be ideal. After all, you don’t want to sustain an injury or perform a pose improperly to the point that it’s ineffective in terms of building muscle or stamina. Choosing a teacher can help you learn each pose the right way, plus help you break out of your comfort zone a bit. And with the arrival of distance yoga classes and apps for instruction, you can take your yoga teacher everywhere you go.
Add Props and Equipment
One of the obstacles to a yoga routine that builds up momentum is the difficulty of some poses. By adding equipment to modify the positions, you may be able to master something new – and build on your prowess over time. Eventually, you may not need props like a rolled towel, blocks, or even a chair or wall for balance. Just remember to take it slow, loosen up, stretch it out, and don’t push your body past its natural limits. You’ll get there in time!
Try Reverse Psychology on Yourself
This tool is a bit of a psychology trick, but it’s an effective way to stay consistent yet forgiving with your yoga routine. The overall idea is that failure is okay sometimes and that you don’t have to be perfect or even 100 percent committed to reap the benefits of the exercise. Telling yourself that it’s perfectly fine to take days off or modify your routine to make it easier or shorter can help you maintain energy to stick with it long-term. And the nicer you are to yourself, the less you’ll want to give up, points out Psychology Today. After all, the better you feel, the more passionate you’ll be about your fitness habits.
Challenge Yourself with Goal Setting
Reaching your goals feels rewarding and empowering, points out Artful Agenda – but what if you don’t have any goals to aim for? Setting a challenge can help you stick to a regular yoga habit, but it can also elevate your practice to the next level. Maybe you want to hit a weekly or monthly goal for time spent in a specific pose, or maybe you’re hoping to master a particularly challenging move for the first time. Whatever your goal is, track it on your phone to keep apprised of your progress.
Employ Focused Meditation (versus Spacing Out)
Yoga can be so relaxing at times that you might start to feel a bit spaced out. While relaxation is essential, utilizing your yoga practice for more focused meditation offers benefits, too. Make the most of your quiet time to reflect inward and follow guided meditation steps while holding each pose (and keep meditating during other activities, too). After all, mindfulness helps you remain grounded, which is one of the focal points of yoga. Combining meditation with yoga benefits both your body and mind, at the same time.