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Relaxation Techniques

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7
Oct 11

Austin Yoga Festival promotes yoga relaxation techniques, and much more

Among the many stress management tips doled out by Austin yoga instructor Russell Burns, one oft-repeated bit of advice is to utilize yoga relaxation techniques as part of a holistic mind-body system. This notion may explain why the University of Texas, Austin, graduate has organized the city's first-ever yoga festival.

According to the university's official publication, The Daily Texan, Russell did not originally intend the event to be anything more than a few dozen yoga enthusiasts meditating in the city's Zilker Park.

However, the Austin Yoga Festival has quickly blossomed into an all-out, two-day celebration of the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of holistic exercise.

Russell told the news source that, for him, the journey through yoga has been one of self-discipline and, in turn, self-discovery.

"Our society is so fast, and you never get a chance to stop," he told the newspaper. "By actually slowing things down, restoring senses from all the craziness, you can slow your mind and begin to feel a calm softness, but it takes effort – you’re not just lying there doing nothing, you’re moving."

The 16 million Americans who practice yoga (as tallied by the Yoga Journal) might agree with him.

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29
Sep 11

Those with hectic lifestyles may want to try relaxation techniques for stress

A hectic lifestyle is virtually unavoidable for millions of Americans. Whether it's presenting at a business meeting, dealing with troublesome colleagues or picking the kids up at soccer practice, juggling multiple responsibilities can impact one's physical, mental and emotional health. Taking a little time out of each day to engage in some relaxation techniques for stress may be crucial to maintaining a high quality of life. This could be one of the reasons why so many people in the U.S. choose to participate in yoga.

This regimen encourages enthusiasts to focus on meditation, deep breathing exercises, poses and stretches in order to enhance their well-being. Performing the gentle maneuvers and concentrating on one's breathwork may help improve one's mood, making life seem more manageable.

If you are looking for some reliable stress management techniques, you may want to think about engaging in yoga. According to the Deccan Chronicle, a pose like the one described below may not only strengthen your mental health, but can also help relieve stiffness in the shoulders, spine and hip joints.

1. Stand tall with your feet together. Your arms should be resting lightly at your sides.

2. Lean forward slowly. Sweep your left arm in front of you as though you are swimming. At the same time, lift your right knee.

3. Now sweep your right arm in front of you while lifting your left knee.

4. Repeat these motions 20 times in a smooth, fluid manner, breathing deeply as you do so.

Performing such exercises can also strengthen abdominal muscles, trim your waist and help you burn the fat on your thighs.

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15
Sep 11

Relaxation techniques reduce stress, keep off the pounds for Gerard Butler

The typical American lifestyle is a stressful one filled with responsibilities and tight schedules. Opting for a holistic mind-body regimen that soothes the nerves, calms the spirit and strengthens the body may be just what the doctor ordered for the millions of people who are tense and exhausted from their everyday duties. One of the most beneficial stress management activities that they can choose is yoga, an Eastern program that originated many centuries ago.

Not only can yoga's relaxation techniques reduce stress, but they can also alleviate pain and help people feel more centered. The breathing exercises, stretches and poses may also be a good way to lose weight. After all, that's how actor Gerard Butler dropped a few pounds, according to MSN Today.

The handsome Scot recently made headlines with his newly trim figure. Some even suggested that he was too slender, but Butler laughed off the criticism.

"If I wear a long shirt, everyone says, 'Oh my god, he lost so much weight!' But this is how I look," Butler told the news source. "I just used to be a lot bigger. But now I'm surfing. I'm doing a surf movie, so I have to slim down."

The star of the film Machine Gun Preacher explained that he has been concentrating on getting frequent aerobic exercise, which has helped him shed some of the bulk that he put on for movies like 300.

"It's just doing a lot of cardio and watching what I eat. I stopped lifting big weights and I'm doing yoga," he added, quoted by MSN.

Butler is one of many Hollywood celebrities, including well-known enthusiast Jennifer Aniston, who cite yoga as a favorite type of exercise. This regimen is known to have benefits for one's physical, mental and emotional well-being, helping it pack a powerful punch in terms of enabling people to optimize their health.

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8
Sep 11

Getting Younger with Dahn Yoga

I’ve been practicing Dahn Yoga for about 15 months now, and I know this will be a life-long practice for me now. I am so much healthier in body, mind, and spirit, and I started feeling and seeing the differences in my condition in a matter of weeks after I started. That’s why I won’t stop! I’ve lost weight, and I walk straighter and taller. I smile a lot more consistently. I breathe better and am aware of my breath. I didn’t realize how bad my circulation was until it got sooooo much better through Dahn Yoga. I’ve become much more centered and peaceful and able to handle stress. My friends tell me I look happier and lighter. And I FEEL great! Even my skin is brighter, clearer, and softer. And I’ve learned how to stop my busy mind from over-thinking. The instructors are all amazing and most started out as members just like me. They are a testament of what can be achieved through Dahn Yoga, and they really, really care about every member.
-Kim, Voss center, TX

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8
Sep 11

Weightlifter discovers that yoga relaxation techniques are challenging and rewarding

Yoga relaxation techniques are often included in a stress management program that aims to reduce an individual's tension and anxiety. The Eastern art, which originated many centuries ago, encourages enthusiasts to meditate, breathe deeply, stretch and pose in order to feel calmer and more centered.

However, there are many misconceptions surrounding the mind-body regimen. For example, some people believe that the gentle, relaxing nature of yoga means that it is not as challenging and beneficial a workout as more rigorous activities.

Take Mary Henslee, for example. In her article for the Huffington Post, she wrote that she has been a lifelong devotee of so-called "tough" exercises such as weightlifting.

"The feel of cold steel in your hand. The heft of a barbell across your shoulders. In my opinion, these are the makings of a great workout," she said, quoted by the news source. "The benefits of weightlifting are countless, from increased fat burn and better posture to muscle definition and increased confidence. Simply put, it makes you feel like one tough chick."

When her niece, Joy, encouraged her to cross-train and further tone her muscles through yoga, Henslee was skeptical. However, frustrated by her plateauing weight loss, she agreed and decided to give the holistic regimen a try. She found that she loved the program's rejuvenating stretches and strengthening poses.

"I learned quickly that it can be pretty hard, and rewarding in new ways. I love the way yoga pushes you to align your body, to lengthen and open your back, chest, hamstrings and everything in between," Henslee wrote in her article. "Yoga gives you an opportunity to clear your mind and get in a good healthy sweat."

Those who engage in yoga to relieve stress will find far more benefits than just the emotional. The mindfulness system is designed to enhance one's physical, mental and spiritual health as well. 

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24
Aug 11

Kids deal with stress by performing relaxation techniques before bed

Every year in August, kids of all ages begin gearing up to go back to school. Although many of them are excited about the prospect of seeing their friends again and shopping for brand new supplies, this anticipation can create a great deal of tension and anxiety. This may result in poor sleep quality and lack of appetite, which are not desirable at a time when kids' minds should be clear and sharp.

Avoiding these problems can be done through stress management activities like yoga. The holistic mind-body regimen employs breathing exercises, poses and stretches designed to enhance inner peace and relaxation, allowing individuals to feel more focused, grounded and centered.

The Galveston Daily News reports that some schools are considering the addition of yoga to their physical education curriculum. Teachers say that the gentle Eastern art allows youngsters to concentrate on their breathing and relax their bodies, thereby enabling them to better concentrate on the tasks at hand.

According to instructors, yoga is beneficial for young enthusiasts because it increases self-confidence, builds coordination, improves balance, nourishes creativity, teaches self-love and helps develop self-discipline.

Engaging in relaxation techniques before bed can help children prepare for the long school year ahead. Have your son or daughter try this pose before going to sleep.

1. Stand tall with feet together. Close your eyes and reach both arms up toward the ceiling, exhaling as you do so.
2. Gently bend your torso forward until it is parallel to the floor. Inhale and hold for 10 seconds. Slowly return to the original position.
3. Bend the torso to the left and hold for 10 seconds, inhaling deeply. Stand up straight, and then repeat on the right.

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8
Aug 11

Medical professionals can use yoga-based relaxation techniques for sleep

Considering the amount of time that medical residents spend awake, many experts say that it is imperative that these doctors-to-be get more sleep, something that yoga relaxation techniques can facilitate. Of course, simply changing the weekly work standards to which residents are held could also help, and that is exactly what regulation-setters have done, according to one of the week's most-emailed New York Times stories.

Even though hospitals in Texas and throughout the nation have reduced the amount of time that residents may be on-shift – typically, to 80 hours in a week – the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education recently ordered that all trainees be given no more than 16 straight hours on call, the newspaper reported.

Medical residents are by no means the only group of professionals who are overworked or under-rested. In fact, millions of Americans lose sleep due to long working hours, have difficulty nodding off when they get home or, in some cases, suffer from both problems.

Though adults need between seven and nine hours of rest every night, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 30 percent of working Americans get fewer than six hours on average.

This problem is where yoga's relaxation techniques for sleep may be of service. If you have trouble sleeping, especially after a long day of work, it may be helpful to give the holistic regimen a go.

Many low-impact yoga programs emphasize the importance of peace and tranquility. Taking at least 30 minutes to stretch, perform a few simple poses and meditate may help sleep-deprived adults fall asleep faster.

Getting a full night's rest can reduce the likelihood of nodding off during the day or making preventable mistakes. In a 12-state survey, the CDC found that more than one-third of all adults reported having accidentally dozed off in the prior month, some of them while driving.

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30
May 11

Discover the beauty of Panama City

Sometimes one of the best tactics for stress management is to simply take a vacation. Those who are suffering under the weight of their everyday responsibilities may want to consider a beach destination for their next trip, as the tropical atmosphere and natural landscape may help calm nerves and anxiety. If Central America is in the cards, tourists should check out Panama City.

Located along the Panama Canal, the city features a glorious stretch of land known as Soberania National Park. Because it is a predominantly untouched area, it can only be accessed via aerial tram. After touching down in the park, travelers will notice the Gamboa Rainforest's intriguing biodiversity. Another area great for exploring local wildlife is the banks of Gatun Lake.

Panama City is also known for its cultural wealth, and visitors can discover why when they head to Panama Viejo, or the "old town." The historic settlement is home to a number of museums, ancient monuments, churches and much more. Some places to check out include the Embera Indian Village, which is where Panama's indigenous population resides, and the National Museum of Anthropology, which gives tourists a look into the lives of native people.

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