Dr. David Simon (left) and Dr. Deepak Chopra co- founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.
www.Chopra.com 5) Understand Your Unique
meeting this person for the first time, without the accumulation of stories and opinions you’ve been carrying. As you practice seeing with new eyes, what do you notice? How does your own reaction and behavior change when you’re not assuming you know who this individual is? Are you more compassionate? More honest?
Let go of the expectation or need for anyone else to praise you for how much you’ve grown and/or healed.
3) Be Present
Our thoughts are always pulling us into the future or the past, away from the present. But it is in the present moment that all the peace, happiness, and love we yearn for exists. As you celebrate the holiday season with your family and loved ones, you may find it helpful to set the intention to be present. Sometimes your mind will take you out of the moment, so be gentle with yourself and stay with the intention to spend as much time as you can in the present.
4) Exhale Your Stress
The ancient practice of yoga contains a rich variety of breathing techniques for specific purposes. Nadi Shodhana, or “alternate nostril breathing,” is a simple but powerful technique that deeply relaxes the mind and body. It is also a soothing practice for calming racing thoughts and anxiety if you are having trouble falling asleep.
Here is how to do it: Hold your right thumb over your right nostril and inhale deeply through your left nostril.
At the peak of your inhalation, close off your left nostril with your third and fourth fingers, then exhale smoothly through your right nostril.
After a full exhalation, inhale through the right nostril, closing it off with your right thumb at the peak of your inhalation. Continue performing Nadi Shodhana for the next few breaths, following the same pattern. Your breathing should be effortless, with your mind gently observing the inflow and outflow of breath.
Stress Response The healing system known as Ayurveda teaches that the way we react to stress is greatly determined by our individual mind-body constitution, known as our dosha. Here are the stress patterns of the three main doshas:
Vata: Those who are predominantly Vata types have the greatest tendency to become anxious and worried when they are out of balance. Normally creative and enthusiastic, Vatas tend to blame themselves when problems arise and can become extremely nervous and scattered when their stress levels are too high.
Pitta: Pitta types are usually warm and loving, but if they’re out of balance, they typically react to stress by finding fault with other people and becoming angry.
Kapha: The most even-tempered dosha is Kapha. Kapha types are usually calm and gentle, but when faced with overwhelming conflict or stress, they may withdraw and refuse to deal with the situation.
Ayurveda offers specific recommendations for each mind-body type, including the most effective ways to cope with stress.
6) Exercise
Whether you take a brisk walk, work out at the gym, go running, skiing, or salsa dancing, regular exercise is one of the most powerful ways to release stress and elevate your mood. When you exercise vigorously, not only do you burn calories, strengthen your muscles, and increase your lung capacity, but your body also produces endorphins—biochemicals that reduce pain and bring about feelings of wellbeing and euphoria.
7) Feel Your Body
While the mind is constantly flitting to thoughts of the future and memories of the past, the body lives in the only moment that truly exists: the present. One of the best ways to relieve stress is to go out of your mind and tune in to your body. Allow yourself to feel all your bodily sensations, including ones that your mind might label unpleasant, such as tightness in your jaw, churning in your stomach, or stiffness in your neck. Your body never doubts itself and it will guide you toward the most evolutionary choices.
OriginMagazine.com | 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164