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From Chaos to Calm
3 simple yoga and meditation tips for the holidays.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott
It’s not just the rush of excitement from seeing the in-laws that’s causing a rise in heart attacks during the holidays. There are several contributing factors, as highlighted in this HuffPost article.
But I’m an optimist — and a yoga teacher.
Here’s how yoga and meditation can be useful tools to counter the negative effects of the holiday season on your heart.
Understanding Stress
There’s good stress and bad stress. Stress is a natural part of a healthy bodily response system and, in certain situations, can even be beneficial. However, when stress causes the body to spike cortisol levels for a prolonged period, it can overwhelm the body, putting strain on the heart and raising blood pressure — eventually increasing the risk of heart attacks.
How Yoga and Meditation Can Help
Sustained yoga and meditation practices can:
- Slow the heart rate
- Stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest” mode)
