Stress Much?

Life in the 21st century seems to zoom along much faster than it did in past generations. We are so connected at all times ... cell phones, PDAs, computers, satellite radio, etc. that gone are the days when you had to wait until the 6:00 news to receive any sort of update on the world or where you could have a nice relaxing walk in the park without your cell phone ringing. We don't ever give our minds time to just be quiet.

More and more people are suffering from sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders. I often hear from clients that they have trouble sleeping because they can't get their minds to shut off.

As a lifelong yoga practitioner, I thank my mother daily for teaching me how to meditate from a young age. I know how to get my brain to stop the ceaseless chatter that keeps you up at night. And you can too.

The folks over at PracticalYoga.tv have a some nice tips about releasing tension.

• Decrease caffeine consumption. Caffeine is a stimulant, so if you are drinking more than 8-16 ounces per day, it could be keeping you up at night. Current conventional wisdom states to limit coffee consumption to 16 ounces per day and before noon. If you rely on it for an afternoon pick-me-up, instead try a healthy snack of a piece of fruit and a small handful of some heart-healthy nuts. This will stabilize your blood sugar and help you avoid that Tall Americano.


• Turn off the TV at least 1 hour before bedtime. Especially if you are staying up to watch shows that get your adrenaline pumping like LOST or Jericho. Better to Tivo those shows to watch other times like when you are on the treadmill.


• Read before bed, especially inspirational books. They will get your brain ready for sleep by releasing feel-good chemicals in your brain. Save the Stephen King for daytime hours.


• Limit your consumption of overly refined foods, especially white flour and sugar. Besides offering little in the way of nutritional value, these foods have a powerful impact on rapidly elevating and then crashing your blood sugar throwing your hormonal system out of balance. A diet high in these foods can impact sleep/rest issues by having chronically elevated or depleted levels of certain hormones. Instead eat a diet high in whole, natural, unrefined foods. Fruits and vegetables. Lean proteins. Healthy fats. Whole grains. Legumes.
  
• Start meditating. All it takes is 10 minutes a day to have a profound physiological and psychological effect on your body. Some benefits include decreased anxiety, improved mood, reduced cardiac risk, enhanced immune system, and increased overall energy. I like to have my clients listen to audio guided meditations especially when they are first learning. There are two free podcasts that I think are great. The Meditation Podcast and The Meditation Station Podcast.

Now go take a hot bath, put aside your worries, and de-stress.