All you need to know about stress and it's antidote( meditation, pranayam , yoga and all )

What is Stress?
Stress is a state of MindStress is a mind-body reaction/response to a situationTo flight from/fight the situation

Why Stress Happens?

When a situation/condition is not Acceptable to usWhen we want to do/get something but are unableWhen ego is hurt (feedback, comments, criticism…)When we loose something which we feel as important

Stress is mostly due to Fear (of Future) Worry (about Past)And not so much due to Present Moment

Different people ‘feel’ different stress levels for the same situations

What Happens when Stressed?

Psychology -> Emotional impactAnxiety, Fear, Depression, Anger, Sadness

Physiology of StressAcidity, Ulcers, Heart ailments, Blood Pressure, Kidney problems, Diabetes

Chain Reaction of Stress:

The Negative SpiralMind perceives threat > Triggers animal instinct of fight or flight> Adrenalin increases to prepare the body > Heart beat increases to supply more food & oxygen to body parts Blood pressure increases > Breathing becomes fast & shallow Metabolism increases Stomach readies for processing more food Acidity increases > Overloaded Excretory Systems to clear the toxin > Imbalanced Endocrine Systemsthe chemical factories of hormones, enzymes Imbalanced Emotions

Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Depression … PanicSome Impacts of Sustained and Unmanaged Stress BrainContinues to operate in higher Beta state (15 to 26 cycles per second of electrical impulses (EEG))Continues to trigger the rest of the body mechanism and create stressBlood Pressure remains high > High blood pressures can lead to Heart failure, paralysis (due to breakdown of blood vessels in brain)…Acidity, Ulcer and other digestive problems DiabetesKidney problems due to overload on removing toxins from the bodyReduces immunity and makes body susceptible to diseases….

Some More ImpactsHuman body & mind are a highly complex and integrated systemEach system impacts the other: either positively or negativelyStress and Mind induced effects on the body are far more harmful than the external pollution Internal Toxins are far more harmful than external chemical/industrial pollution

ISO 14000 needs significant change in the globalized knowledge era!Why Allopathic Medicines and Stimulants are not good for managing Stress

Allopathic medicines directly add chemical to the body and interfere with the internal chemical factoriesE.g. Taking Antacids for Acidity neutralizes the acid in the stomach. Then body thinks that the acid is not sufficient and starts producing more.E.g. Anti-depressants suppress the ability of brain cells to generate electric impulsesPeople taking such drugs for prolonged time become dullStimulants like Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, Coco etc. temporarily trigger higher activitiesSubsequently body craves for more & more stimulants
Then how to manage stress? Turn it into a Positive SpiralBreak the negative cycle at each pointManage Mind Positive Thinking and AttitudeLarger view of life & Meditation. Healthy lifestyle and food habits…
Yogasanas:- Exercise different parts of the body Combine with breathingCreates flexibility and hollowness, lightness Helps in flow of water, food, oxygen, electrical signals and flow of energy in the body
Isometric exercises As against Isotonic exercises of aerobics, gym exercises which help to build muscles which reduce the flexibility & become blockers over a periodWhat does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at Physiological level?...E.g. Ujjai breath that we learn in Art of Living Prog: Increases absorption of oxygen into the hemoglobin by creating inhale pressure in lungs for osmosisE.g. Bastrika pranayama that we learn in Art of Living Prog: Increases the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood plasma by creating exhale pressure in lungs for osmosis Increases oxidation and liberation of energy in every cell of the body Air filter analogy in automobiles Stimulates nerve tips in lungs which have connection to the brain area where Pituitary Gland is situatedPituitary Gland is the master gland in the endocrine system and has a strong influence on rest of the endocrine glandsMeditation Takes the brain to Alpha state: electrical impulses of 8 to 14 cycles per second At deep meditation level (Samadhi state) brain goes to Theta state: electrical impulses of 4 to 7 cycles per secondLeads to deep relaxation

Sudarshana Kriya of Art of LivingTakes the brain to higher beta state Then takes the brain to deep relaxationThus exercises and expands the brain/mind capacity Mind rules the bodyrest of the body function Endocrine system Nervous system Mind
Enzymes produced by Endocrine glands influence every cell, organ and function of the body. They regulate mood, growth, metabolism, tissue function, sexual & reproductive processes
Chain Reaction of Managing Stress: The Positive SpiralMind peaceful, joyful Triggers hope, optimism, Positive feelings. Adrenalin normal to prepare the body Heart beat normal to supply normal food & oxygen to body parts Blood pressure normal Breathing becomes slow & deep Metabolism normal Stomach readies for processing normal foodAcidity normal. Normal Excretory Systems to clear the toxin Balanced Endocrine Systems the chemical factories of hormones, enzymes Balanced EmotionsEnergetic, Enthusiastic, Positive…….Calm Confident ComposedSo, to be “Successful”…. The definition I liked most:“The measure of Success is the number of joyful smiles per day every day” – Shri Shri RavishankarLife is full of choices; The choices one makes determine one’s life – they are like cross-roads IQ < EQ < AQ < SQ : determine what choices one makesManage MindHealthy mind FOR a healthy bodyIt is mind, and not body, that differentiates the leader from the restPositive Energy is most fundamental to any Leader
The Vicious Cycle Priority1) Pursue money 2) Pursue fame Loose health Loose joy Less creative Less Accomplishment Less Recognition Less Money More stress on the prioritiesPeople spend half of their life in making money and loose health in that process. In the remaining half they spend that money trying to regain the health Make it a Virtuous CyclePriority1) Pursue health 2) Pursue knowledge More joy More creative More Accomplishment More Recognition More Money Continue stress on the prioritiesPursue health (mind+body) and knowledge (universal knowledge) then money & fame will follow as a byproduct