Just Breathe..

Are you feeling stressed or

unmotivated?

62% of Americans say that work has a significant impact on stress levels.More than 30% of college freshman feel overwhelmed a great deal of the

time.

There are two nervous systems in the human body: sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic, commonly known as the "fight or flight" system, causes the blood pressure to rise, the breath rate to quicken, and

stress hormones to flood into the body. This is what causes stress.

Do you have problems trying to fall asleep?

Do you wake up several times throughout the night?

65% of Americans are losing sleep due to stress.

32% are losing sleep at least one night a week.

Are you someone who worries about your

weight?

Do you feel as if you aren’t

getting enough exercise?

Two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight with a BMI > 25.

Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese with a BMI > 30.

If you said YES to any of the previous questions, there is a solution for you!

YOGA!

Yoga helps you relax and decreases anxiety and stress.

The way we breathe reflects the quality of the mind. There is a connection between our mental,

emotional, and psychological states and the quickness of our breath.

Our mental state influences our breathing pattern therefore, we can choose to change our breathing pattern and thus change our mental state. When you relax and slow the pace of your breath, the

pace of the mind is calmed and quieted. The more time you spend pacing your breathing patterns, the

more likely you are to act with patience, understanding, and compassion.

To feel fully rested in the morning, you can try some of these yoga poses before going to bed:

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) - This quiets the nervous system. Stand facing a chair. On an inhalation, reach your arms up overhead and lengthen your spine. Exhale and fold forward until your forehead rests on the chair. Rest your arms, including your

elbows. Stay here for 3 to 5 minutes or as long as you're comfortable. Inhale as you come out of the pose.

Side Sleeping - This helps keep spine aligned and reduces snoring. Get into bed and turn to one side. Put a pillow between your knees and another under your

head for support. Your head pillow should be just high enough to prevent your neck from side bending up or down. Your whole spine should be straight when viewed from the side.

Zero-Point Release - This releases craniosacral tension. Do not use this position if you are prone to snoring or sleep apnea. Lie on your back. Bring your hands behind your head with the right hand touching the back of the head and the left hand on top of the right. This is a great position to fall asleep in, although you don't want to stay here all

night with pressure on your hands and your shoulders stretching upward.

Yoga can change your body! You can become more toned,

flexible, and stronger.

Get out there and try YOGA!

You have nothing to lose but stress, anxiety, and weight!