Mar 26

How Yoga Relieves Stress and Improves Wellness

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Yoga is not only a great form of workout but also encourages mental and physical relaxation. It helps minimize stress and anxiety while promoting flexibility, strength, and pain relief. There are yoga poses designed to relieve physical blockages such as muscle knots. Believe it or not, it also helps release emotions and tension by injecting a lot of mood-boosting endorphins into your body. All these elements lead to less stress and more peace. Yoga helps you become more aware of the transitory nature of bodily sensations, feelings, and thoughts. As a result, you will become less attached to your ideas and learn to understand your emotions better.   Research-Backed Benefits of Yoga for Stress There is plenty of scientific evidence that supports the stress-relieving effects of yoga. As per a study done in 2018, women who did Hatha yoga three times a day for four weeks straight noticed a significant reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Yoga is a complementary medication in addition to prescription drugs. In-depth studies are required to investigate yoga’s long-term role in releasing stress, anxiety, and depression. Similarly, a study done on a small group of adult men in 2020 showed that specific benefits of […]
Mar 25

9 Self-Help Solutions for Reducing Symptoms of Depression

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Being depressed is painful and debilitating. An estimated 10 percent of adults in the United States suffer from symptoms of depression each year, resulting in family strife, loss of work productivity, and misery for the person affected by the condition and those around them. While getting professional medical help for depression is always a good idea, especially if the condition is severe, there are also many non-medical solutions a person can take on their own to reduce symptoms of depression. Many therapists and doctors advise that depressed patients take steps like these, along with counseling and medication. Here are nine ways a depressed person can engage in self-help to overcome or reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate depression.   1. Get Some Exercise Many scientific studies on depression find that exercise is as useful for relieving mild to moderate depression as medication.  Exercise has multiple positive benefits beyond helping with depression symptoms such as improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, and reduced risk for developing many chronic diseases. It can be quite challenging to exercise when feeling depressed, so it is best to start small and do something enjoyable. Taking a short walk each day, doing ten minutes of calisthenics […]
Mar 25

Never Ignore Your Emotions

by kevin in Mind & Body 0 comments
Depression is an illness – it may not be recognized by many, but it exists. Left untreated it can be detrimental to one’s physical health. The risk of heart disease, diabetes or stroke can stem from untreated depression. If you do suffer from depression or a bipolar disorder, there are a number of things you could try to banish the blues. And there will be no mention of bottled sunshine tablets in this advice. One of the best remedies for banishing the blues is to exercise. It is not easy to go and pack up your gym kit and head off to the fitness suite when all you want to do is be left alone to wallow in a depression. However, if the gym does not appeal to you, try to go for a swim. Regular exercise junkies actually end up feeling depressed if they go just three days without any aerobic work outs. The adrenaline rush one gets from exercise lifts bad moods and makes you feel great. The science behind it is simple: exercise releases a chemical within us called endorphins. Endorphins stop stress hormones in their tracks. If you have depression, stress hormones are working at their […]
Mar 25

Secret Tricks for Getting a Fitter Body After 50, Says Fitness Expert

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If you want to get fitter after 50, these expert-backed tips will help you along your journey.   Let’s face the facts: Getting a fitter body after 50 will require hard work and dedication—especially if you haven’t been as active as you were in your younger years. Your body goes through many changes as you grow older, including the loss of lean muscle mass and a slower metabolism. (Ah, the beauty of aging!) Even though some of these changes may be difficult to accept, you can take control of the healthy lifestyle you lead, from wellness to diet to exercise. Staying active and maintaining a fit physique is incredibly important, so we’re here with some secret tricks for getting a fitter body after 50 that you’ll want to add to your routine right now. When it comes to achieving a lean, toned body, the goal is to build muscle mass and lose fat. This means strength training on a regular basis and not skipping out on cardio. However, if you’re already doing both, read on to learn about these expert-backed tricks that’ll help you along your journey.   1. Start each workout with a power movement As you age, not […]
Mar 25

4 Ways Meditation Changes the Brain

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Meditation is a powerful tool that comes with a number of health benefits. It’s the practice of thinking deeply or focusing one’s mind for a period of time with the goal of obtaining feelings of relaxation and inner peace. While meditation is an ancient practice that has been around for centuries, scientists are just beginning to study its effects on the human body. One realm of research concentrates on how meditation impacts the brain. Studies show that meditation has a variety of neurological benefits, from changes in brain volume to decreasing activity in parts of the brain involved with stress. Below are four ways that meditation has been shown to change the brain:   1. Meditation Changes Structures in the Brain Some studies suggest practicing mindfulness meditation can actually change the structures of the brain. A study published in the journal Psychiatry Research that was conducted by a team of researchers at Harvard University used brain scans to determine that eight weeks of a mindfulness training program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) increased the cortical thickness in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls learning and memory and plays an important role in emotion regulation. While scientists are still […]
Mar 25

Part I: The Benefits of Tai Chi

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Tai Chi is a form of martial arts that was first developed in China several centuries ago. While it is a form of martial arts that trains in self-defense, it strays away from the traditional perception of martial arts training – strenuous training and physical contact with others to learn and improve your skills. Where tai chi differs is that it places a strong emphasis on using the mind as well as the body. Much of tai chi is spent making slow and calculated movements in a rhythm that allows your mind and body to find an inner calm. The mental clarity that you gain from practicing this martial art allows you to better learn the physical aspects of the training. So with as a form of fitness, it provides both mental and physical training, which leads to gaining health benefits in both these areas. Tai chi comes in many different training forms, which allows practitioners to find the best style to suit to their own fitness goals. It’s not hard to find a good tai chi class, as it remains very popular today. Take a look below and see for yourself the countless health benefits to be gained from […]
Mar 25

MEDITATION – HOW IT CAN MAKE YOU ANGRY, AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!

by kevin in Mind & Body 0 comments
From providing instant stress relief to boosting energy levels- meditation is known to do a lot for the body. The fact that meditation could actually make you angry may seem laughable, but yes, it can actually happen, and it can be due to several possible reasons. Keep reading to know more about why meditation could get you enraged, and how you could tackle it better. Can Meditation Induce Anger? Yes, meditation can induce anger. This is because different people have different personalities, and react to situations in different ways. For some, the idea of sitting down for 20 minutes and focusing on the breath may seem like getting into relaxation mode, while for some others, it may just be impossible. Also, a lot of times, the most important aspects of meditation tend to get ignored- the basic goal of meditation is to calm down the mind, and in turn, experience benefits for the body. Meditation also helps you get in touch with your true self and boosts the natural purge of your body and rids it of everything negative- whether at the physical or emotional level. This is why some people may experience sadness or anger after a meditation session- […]
Mar 24

Benefits of Positive Thinking for Mind and Body

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The COVID-19 scenario has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. Be it elderly people or the young generation – a cloud of negativity and stress has taken over everyone. However, being depressed or stressed all the time has its side-effect; one of them being reducing immunity. You may not realise it but somehow your resistance power keeps decreasing and that is the last thing you would want during the COVID-19 era. We know, it is easier said than done but you need to think positive and stay as happy and de-stressed as you can for a healthy mind and body.   Understanding Positive Thinking and Its Importance One of the misconceptions around positive thinking is that people think being positive means you ignore all the unpleasant or hard situations of your life and just walk away from it while keeping your head high. However, that is not true! By positive attitude, it is meant that you approach the difficulties in your life more optimistically and efficiently. Instead of repeatedly thinking about the problem and the worst scenarios surrounding it, you stay calm and think of the solution so that something good happens – that is what a positive attitude is […]
Mar 24

8 NATURAL WAYS TO BOOST ENERGY

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Do you feel sapped of your energy even before the clock strikes 4? Is your first instinct to grab a can of soda or a cup of coffee to get through the rest of the day? Things are now about to change- keep reading to know more about the 8 best ways to boost energy naturally! Chew Gum Try it once, and you’ll carry a bunch of chewing gum strips everywhere with you- this simple act can actually help increase alertness dramatically. So the next time you’re feeling drowsy in the middle of a class or an important presentation, chew on some sugar-free gum. Turn on the Lights The body can feel drained of energy when it is devoid of exposure to natural light, and if you’re one of those caught in the 9 to 5 work routine, and your office cubicle isn’t near a window, try switching on all the lights you have access to- it’ll be almost as effective as natural light. Get Out Researchers say that nature is fuel for the soul, and what could be better than stepping out for a few minutes into the nature when you’re feeling drained? Many studies have found that this […]
Mar 24

Balance Your Workouts with Getaways and Holidays

by kevin in Mind & Body 0 comments
We all work hard throughout the year so it is important to take a number of holidays and weekend getaways to relax the mind, so we feel fresh again. Relaxation is almost as good as exercises because of the profound effect it has on the body and mind. However, for the rest of the year, you need to work out regularly about 3 to 5 times weekly. You can choose your preferred activity, but it is important to be active and avoid a sedentary lifestyle. There are plenty of benefits for leading this kind of lifestyle. Find an activity that delights you You need to identify a suitable exercise or activity that you like. Examples include brisk walking, jogging, swimming or even joining a team sport such as basketball and so on. This way, you will be active and be engaged in an activity that pleases you. Try to engage in this activity three to five times every week. You can work with partners if this makes it easier for you. Join a martial arts class If you love martial arts or disciplined training, then you can find a good gym offering these in your neighborhood. Martial arts will toughen […]
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