We often associate the word stress with something negative. You have to admit that sometimes, just reading the word used in any other context has this effect like that of seeing a ghost. You might find it surprising that you actually experience good stress when you allow yourself the time to. All it takes is a matter of knowing what they are and identifying which are good and bad for you.
What’s good stress?
Good stress is when you experience something as sudden as the other type of stress. However, you feel happy instead of disappointed. There’s no impending sense of doom or the pessimist reaction of knocking something before you try it. If you watch your favorite team play and you find your heart beating faster than usual in the last two minutes, then your body is experiencing stress. But at this time, it’s the good kind.
What’s bad stress?
It already goes without saying that bad stress is when you feel almost like you should give up on something like a project or a personal undertaking. You might notice that stress of the bad kind come around when something you’re working on is taking longer than usual. You lose your patience and you feel like you’re boiling up inside. Since this isn’t necessarily the response to everything, you keep it all in and the bad feeling just makes you feel worn out and tired. You’ll even see it in a mirror when you look into one.
How can I get more good stress?
The answer seems obvious, but it’s well worth asking. You can get more good stress by changing how you look at things. Since stressors are something you can’t necessarily get rid of, like a big proposal at the next business meeting, you can try looking at it under a more positive light. You’ll still feel some slight agitation towards something that you don’t really feel like doing, but a positive way of thinking and a calm approach will make things seem more doable.
Getting good stress is also making your body release the natural chemicals that make you feel good. When you calm your mind with meditation, the effect is a lot like entering a cool, breezy room after heavy work under the hot sun. When you practice yoga, your body gets just the right amount of movement it needs to release endorphins just as any other exercise would.
Is yoga really for me?
There are different types of yoga that will suit anyone’s needs. Given that, there’s no doubt you’ll find a type of yoga that you’re comfortable with. Apart from the physical benefits you can get from doing yoga, you also get the best stress reduction exercise you can avail of. You can also choose a program that you feel is right for you and your schedule, so when and where you do your exercises won’t add to the anxiety of having no time for yoga.
How does yoga eliminate bad stress?
Yoga is a combination of breathing and stretching exercises with meditation. Yoga also mixes guided imagery with the exercises and meditation. Contrary to popular belief, yoga isn’t strictly for the religious or spiritual. You could simply be into it for the physical benefits or the stress relief that it offers. Ask a yoga instructor near your neighborhood for more information on the type of yoga that could be just right for you.
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