Embrace Serenity: The Importance of Stress Management

If you’re feeling the weight of stress, you’re certainly not alone. Stress has become an all-too-frequent visitor for many of us. So much so that it might even feel like stress is the norm. 

While stress definitely has its downside, there’s good news! Did you know that not all stress is bad? It can actually be categorized into two types: good stress (also known as eustress) and bad stress (known as distress). Good stress is the kind where you feel no fear or and there is no threat of danger or pain – you feel excited, inspired, or maybe accomplished and capable. This can include things like exercise (if not taken to extremes), preparing for a vacation, learning something new, going on a first date, meeting a tough deadline, or preparing for a test or important meeting. This short-term stress, even if it feels hard at times, can be used to your advantage as a catalyst for growth and improved performance.

While not all stress is negative, it is still crucial to your quality of life and overall health that it is managed effectively. There can be “too much of a good thing” just as much as there can be too much of a bad one. 

The fascinating thing is that the body does not differentiate between good and bad stress. Regardless of the stressor, the body responds in the same way by releasing hormones – such as cortisol and adrenaline – to prepare the body for a ‘fight or flight’ reaction by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. This natural response of the body to various situations is beneficial when facing immediate threats or short-term challenges; however, if it becomes a constant, it can create mental and emotional challenges and lead to a range of physical issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental health disorders, and other serious conditions.

Stress management isn’t about eliminating stress completely, though. Instead, it’s about learning how to use it to your advantage where you are able and then manage the rest effectively so that it doesn’t become chronic and detrimental to your health.

Effective stress management involves a variety of strategies.

These can include regular physical activity, a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, and relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing. It can also involve psychotherapy or counseling to help you develop healthier ways of thinking and responding to stressors.

Understanding the connection between mind and body can also be a powerful tool in managing stress. This can involve practices such as mindfulness, where you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment, and biofeedback, where you learn to control certain bodily functions such as your heart rate.

Yoga is also helpful as a stress-busting ally. It combines physical postures, breathwork, and meditation to create a holistic approach to reducing stress. Different styles of yoga offer different benefits. 

Hatha Yoga

This slow-paced style focuses on holding poses for a longer time, helping you to focus, relax, and find balance.

Vinyasa Yoga

This flowing style, which can vary in focus from promoting flexibility and mobility to building strength, links movement to your breath as you move smoothly and continuously through a series of poses, allowing your mind and body to work together. 

Power Yoga

This energetic form is an extension of Vinyasa yoga that is focused on endurance and strength. It flows from one pose to the next at a faster pace, which can help you burn off steam and release stress.

Yin Yoga

This meditative style allows you to connect with your inner self, encouraging relaxation and stress release by holding stretching poses and focusing on the mindfulness of stillness.

We recommend choosing classes you love so that you are excited about making them a part of your day. If it feels good, work your way up to practicing yoga 2-3 times a week to reap the maximum stress-reducing benefits. Each body is unique, so listen to yours and adjust as needed!

While yoga is our favorite stress buster at Twisted Grit, we understand everyone is different.

Other forms of exercise like dance, walking/hiking, rebounding, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and weightlifting can also help manage stress. They increase the production of endorphins, your body’s natural mood lifters, and can provide a healthy distraction from your daily worries. We even offer some classes at Twisted Grit that incorporate some of these aspects of fitness into our class offerings through our Strength HIIT, Quick Core, and Strength Flow yoga classes, as well as occasional bellydance and rebounding classes.

A well-rounded routine for stress management goes beyond movement, incorporating mindful and restorative practices. Adding things like meditation, reiki, massage, essential oils, and sound baths can greatly contribute to your stress management regimen. 

Meditation helps manage stress by allowing you to focus on the present moment, effectively reducing anxiety about the future or past. It involves mindful breathing techniques that promote relaxation and calm, decreasing the body’s stress response. Regular meditation also increases self-awareness, giving you a chance to recognize stress triggers and manage them better.

Reiki, a form of energy healing, helps with stress management by balancing the body’s energy. The process involves a practitioner channeling energy into a person through touch, aiming to activate the natural healing processes of the body and restore physical and emotional well-being. 

Sound baths are another helpful way to de-stress. They utilize the vibrations and frequencies produced by instruments like gongs, singing bowls, and chimes to stimulate the brain, shifting it into a relaxed and meditative state. This practice not only reduces stress and anxiety, but also aids in better sleep, which is essential for stress management.

Essential oils can enhance any of these practices through their aromatherapeutic properties. Scents like lavender and chamomile, for example, are known for their calming effects. These, and other similar essential oils, help to promote relaxation when inhaled. And, applying these oils topically, or using them in a diffuser, also can create a tranquil environment conducive to stress relief and mindfulness.

We have practitioners in each of these areas at our studio ready to help you explore what feels best for your body and life. Experiment with what feels good and add on from there! 

Managing stress is an evolving journey, not a destination. Whether it’s a power yoga class to start your day, a calming sound bath to unwind in the evening, an essential oil diffuser in your office space, or a dance or HIIT session to shake off the stress, we’re here to support you at Twisted Grit.