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The Joy of the Breath

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The first act in this world we do is breathe and the last act is breathing.

We breathe everyday but are we breathing properly? Harvard health states that when we don’t do deep breathing from the abdomen and instead do only shallow breaths our lowest portion of the lungs do not receive the full share of oxygenated air. This can lead to shortness of breath, anxiety, and allow toxins to become stagnate in the body.

Shallow breathing, breathing through the mouth, or improper breathing patterns can lead to more tension and stress in the body. Oxygen is the key fuel that runs our body and without it we are making our cells, tissues, and systems starve, which can cause the sympathetic system to come on overdrive. When the sympathetic system is on for too long, the energy into the flight and fight response takes away from normal functioning of the brain, nervous system and the digestive system. All this can lead to chronic disease and illness.

The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in taking us back into rest and relaxation, especially after this flight and fight response. This system governs our digestive system, heart rate, and other automatic functions in our body. These functions being automatic cannot be changed consciously, but with one exception, the breath. Slowing down the breath actually directly influences the autonomic nervous system, specifically the parasympathetic system. So when stress and fear is triggered, we are able to manage the stress through our breath. Isn’t that a breath of relief?

A simple practice we can try is the three part yogic breathing:

1. Sit in a seated position or lie down on a mat
2. Place the right hand on the chest or heart and the left hand on the abdomen
3. Inhale deeply where you see your chest and abdomen rising fully like a balloon
4. And exhale where you see your tummy going inwards toward the spine, allowing all the air out of the belly
5. Practice this for 5-10 minutes

After this exercise, you will feel fresh and rejuvenated! But you have to try it to know it.

Watch SneakPeek of JoyScore 4-7-8 Breathing.

 

Tips to Fall Asleep Naturally

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Here are ways to fall asleep naturally:

1. Applying oil to the foot soles is one way to induce sleep according to Ayurveda. It grounds the person and also alleviate psychological imbalances since negative emotions can accumulate at the soles of the feet.

 

2. Drink a cup of warm milk or almond milk before bed. Warm milk can promote healthy tissues, balance the nervous system, and prepare the body to sleep.

 

3. Eat a small meal three hours before bedtime. Dinner time should actually be the smallest meal of the day and should be eaten 3 hours before you sleep so it has time to digest. Something warm like hot soup will sit well in the tummy and won’t be heavy before bedtime.

4. Turn off electronics one hour before bed. Have a detox break from your phone and television to give your eyes and body some rest from stimulation. Too much stimulation can cause a lot of stress to the system and lead to unrestful sleep.

5. Build a sleeping routine. Having regular sleeping patterns will naturally signal the body to know when to sleep. Sleeping before 10 PM and waking up before sunrise is ideal for optimum health.

6. Try a guided meditation or yoga nidra before bed. Yoga nidra takes one into deep rest that can be even better than sleep! It helps activate the relaxation response and can improve the function of our endocrine & nervous system.

Prevent and implement new habits so nothing can steal away your beauty sleep! During sleep the whole body is rejuvenated and recharged. If it cannot recharge your batteries will go low and you will eventually burn out. Make proper sleep a much needed priority on your list.

Watch the SneakPeek of JoyScore Visualization Meditation.

 

Can’t Fall Asleep? This is Why.

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Having a hard time falling asleep? Join the club. The National Institute of Health estimates that about 30% of the population has sleeping problems. It is not a surprise with the overwhelming amount of stimulation from phones, television, and constant busyness of the mind to keep our nervous system out of whack.

What are the reasons why we can’t fall asleep at night?

1. Too much caffeine: Coffee is a stimulant and sometimes doesn’t take effect until 4-6 hours later; it also disrupts your circadian rhythm, which throws off your ability to fall asleep at the right time
2. Using technology before bed: Overload of electronics before bed disrupts our circadian rhythms and prevents the sleep hormone melatonin from kicking in so take an hour break before bed with a book, some nice stretches, or meditation instead
3. A heavy dinner or eating too late: Eating too late can wreak havoc not just on your belly but also your circadian rhythms, messing with your internal clock and causing weight gain
4. Stress: There are so many things that can cause us stress including pressure from work, family problems, relationships, financials, and our own health. This could be keeping us awake at night too as we overthink, worry about things are mind is chewing on, and feel fear overcome us. When we are stressed, our sympathetic system is triggered and we are in hyperarousal mode. Stress tends to cause an increase in cortisol levels or stress hormones, signaling the brain to close down certain systems to prepare for flight or fight such as digestive or immune processes. It could also mess with our melatonin levels, causing confusion for our body to when it is the right time to sleep.

Watch the SneakPeak of JoyScore Bedtime Visualization. 

How Successful People Make the Most of Their Weekend

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With the weekend fast approaching, its time to take a look at how we will spend our time. Though many of us look forward to it all week, are we truly taking the time to make the most out of our weekend?

To help move you in the right direction, below is a list of ways in which highly successful people spend their weekend

  • They unplug you aren’t doing yourself any favors by staying connected to your device 24/7. The weekend is a great time to unplug. If you manage a team, this is a perfect opportunity to empower your team to make decisions without you. If you are a part of a team, now is the time to establish healthy boundaries.
  • They volunteer There is nothing more rewarding than making a difference in the world around you.  Helping those in need helps you keep things in perspective and studies show that people who volunteer in their local communities feel more personal growth and well-being.
  • They explore hobbies Pursuing your hobbies is important for your overall well-being. Whether it’s a sport or an art, cultivating your hobbies can help you unwind, create and foster friendships, and improve your overall happiness in life.
  • They spend time with family and friends Sometimes our weeks are so busy and routine-infused that we don’t have time to have quality, unstructured time with our loved ones. The weekend is the perfect time to reconnect with family and friends. This could be sharing a meal or going on an outing, or having a long phone conversation with a faraway friend.
  • They stay active There are many physical and emotional benefits that come along with an active lifestyle. Though a long week makes it tempting to lay on the couch all weekend, you’ll feel better and more fulfilled if you incorporate physical activity into your plans.

 

 

On Saturday, fight the urge to binge-watch the next show on your Netflix queue, and head outside. You never know what creative or personal breakthrough may happen through constructive use of your downtime.

 

5 Ways to Fight the Monday Blues

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We’ve all felt it. Sunday night, you’re beginning to come down from the joy of your weekend and reality that you have to go back to work the next day is starting to set in.

The feeling of stress or anxiety for the upcoming week is known as, “The Monday Blues,” and if you feel it, you’re not alone. Whether you don’t love your job or class, or you just feel overwhelmed with all that you have to accomplish within the week, its easy to feel negative emotions about the coming work week.

To help get you through, we’ve put together 5 tips to help you stay joyful and motivated throughout the week.

  1.  Prepare for Monday on Friday You don’t want to dedicate your allocated down time on the weekends to prepare for Monday. This can make Monday mornings particularly chaotic since a lot of the time is dedicated to playing “catch up” from work that has piled up over the weekend. To help ease some of the burden, make sure you are using the last hour of your day on Friday to prepare for Monday. When possible, hold off scheduling calls or meeting until later on in the day on Monday.
  2. Practice good self-care principles The basics of self care should not be neglected, especially when you have a busy week coming up. This means getting a good night’s rest, eating a healthy breakfast, and fitting in some good physical activity. The better you feel on the inside, the more equipped you are to handle all the outside stresses that the day may throw at you
  3. Add moments of joy to your schedule Your calendar should not only be full of work deadlines and appointments. Make sure that you schedule in fun with friends, work out classes, walks with your dog, or anything else that brings you joy. Even if you don’t have a ton of downtime to spare, there is always an opportunity to carve out some time for joy.
  4. Tackle one task at a time Nothing is more overwhelming than seeing dozens of items on your to-do list. Ease the burden on yourself by working on one thing at a time. Not only will this help you stay organized, but it will also give you the feeling of satisfaction that comes along with checking items off the list.
  5. Evaluate your situation While feeling the blues for a coming Monday sometimes is normal, continuously feeling dread or unhappiness to go into work is not. If you are constantly feeling anxiety about going into the office, it may be time to re-evaluate how happy you are in your position.

 

 

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