5 Ways That Yoga Can Help With Stress

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5 Ways That Yoga Can Help With Stress | Uptown Dallas Personal Training
29. Feb
Yoga

5 Ways That Yoga Can Help With Stress

If you’re like most of us, you feel stressed at least some of the time. We live in an increasingly stressful world, and it’s taking its toll on us. According to a 2022 study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), 34% of adults in the U.S. “reported that stress is completely overwhelming most days” and 27% said “they are so stressed they can’t function.”

These high stress levels impact both mental and physical health, with 76% of adults reporting “they have experienced health impacts due to stress in the prior month” such as headaches, fatigue, anxiety, or depression (APA, 2022). If we want to stay healthy and fit in mind and body, it’s important to find ways to manage stress.

One way to do this is by practicing yoga. Whether you are looking for stress reduction, increased flexibility, improved breathing, or a combination of results, here are five ways that yoga might be able to help you, too.

5 Ways That Yoga Can Help With Stress | Uptown Dallas Personal Training1) Breath

When we take deep breaths, we slow our heart rate and calm our minds and bodies. Essentially, yoga is a mind-body-breath practice. Part of yoga, called pranayama, is all about breath regulation. Simply drawing in a deep belly breath and then exhaling slowly helps calm the body and mind.

Nadi shodhana, or alternate nostril breathing, is another technique that can get you focused on the breath. It’s one of my favorites to do when I want to feel calm. Cover one nostril with a finger, breathe in deeply, then switch nostrils and breathe out. Breathe in through the open nostril, switch which nostril is covered, then breathe out. Repeat, alternating nostrils.

2) Mindfulness

Numerous scientific studies back up the claims that yoga and mindfulness practices can help manage stress (Pascoe et al., 2017). Negative thinking and worrying about “what ifs” can make stress worse. Yoga encourages a focus on the present, which can help you focus on the here and now and reduce stressful thoughts.

3) Movement

Most types of exercise will help reduce stress. When you get moving, you help work the tension out of your muscles and boost mood-improving hormones. Yoga is just one of several exercises that can help reduce stress. Some types of yoga will give you a workout all on their own, while gentle yoga practices can be good to incorporate into your other fitness routines.

4) Control

Research on stress reduction shows that if you take control over your life in certain areas, it helps you feel more in control and less stressed overall (APA, 2022). One of the ways you can exercise control is by setting aside time to exercise. The motion of exercise will help reduce stress, and sticking with a goal can increase your sense of control and accomplishment. Additionally, regular yoga practice can improve your overall feeling of well-being, helping you feel more in control of your own health and wellness.

5) Community

If you practice yoga in group classes, you can also gain the mood-improving benefits of a community. Exercise classes and group training (which may incorporate yoga, depending on your individual and group fitness goals) can help provide motivation to keep working out and achieving goals.

If group training sounds like it might be right for you or if you’re looking for a supportive, high-end local gym, contact us today. We’ll set up a tour and a free fitness evaluation, and discuss how we can best help you meet your goals to reduce stress, get moving, and feel good.