Teaching Yoga for Stress Management

Paul Jerard, Jr., E-RYT 500 speaks on points of how to teach your students stress management. Teaching Yoga for Stress Management Many students begin the practice of Yoga in order to manage their stress levels. Stress, anxiety and a constant state of rushing from one task another seems almost endemic in our society today. With the advent of all of our technological devices, we are all under pressure to accomplish more and more tasks, in less and less time. This level of intensity has increased many individuals’ stress levels dramatically over the last several decades. In addition, the “challenging” economy, shall we say, has put further pressure on many of us to work more and more hours, in order to make ends meet. With all of the increased pressure and stress in our daily lives, many of us are seeking ways to relax and unwind. Being able to effectively relax and release stress is critically important for both physical and mental health. Researchers have been clearly demonstrating over the last couple of decades how high levels of stress and anxiety are deleterious to both physical and mental health. On a physical level, stress erodes the functioning of the immune system and can cause stomach disorders, back pain, headaches, and cardiovascular problems. On an emotional and neurological level, high levels of unremitting stress erode the brain’s ability to learn new information as the hippocampus begins to erode. High levels of stress also keeps the brain in a survival loop, which can preclude the ability to think of creative solutions to daily problems outside of the “box.” Stress and anxiety also negatively impacts the brain's ability to concentrate and remember new information. However, by creating time each day to unwind and release stress from the body and mind, you will be able to protect and maintain your physical and mental health and well being. Releasing tension and stress throughout the body-mind matrix will help to mitigate some of the damage that stress is known to cause. This will help you to actually be more efficient and effective during the course of your daily life, even though you might feel at first that you definitely do not have time to practice Yoga everyday, much less rest in Shavasana for an entire ten minutes! Nonetheless, by allowing yourself a daily period of time to release stress and tension, you will provide your body and mind with an opportunity to be rejuvenated as a calm state of being allows you to restore your vital life force energy. A regular practice of Yoga poses and breathing exercises will go a long way towards alleviating stress and tension. In addition, by incorporating even a brief period of meditation, a healthy diet and good sleep habits into your daily routine, you will further alleviate stress and enhance your mental and physical health. If you are a Yoga teacher, by sharing the importance of alleviating stress through a regular, balanced practice of Yoga poses, pranayama exercises and meditation techniques, you will be offering your students a tried and truth path of rest, rejuvenation and relaxation. If you find that many of your Yoga students are struggling with ill health due to stress and anxiety, by offering Yoga classes that are tailored for stress management you will be teaching them vital tools that can be effectively used on a daily basis for stress relief. Of course, the level of physical ability and fitness will vary from student to student. You may find that many of your type A personality Yoga students prefer to expunge the stress out of their bodies and minds through a vigorous Power Yoga class that is done in a heated room. At the end of your Yoga classes, you may even want to suggest that your students write down a few notes about a pose or two that was particularly effective for them, as well as one or two breathing techniques that offered them immediate stress relief. In this way, they will have easy access to a few Yoga poses and pranayama exercises that they can practice at home in five or ten minutes a day. If you would like more information about teaching Yoga classes for stress management or about becoming a certified Yoga teacher, please visit: www.aurawellnesscenter.com.