We romanticize stress. The busier we are, the more valuable we feel. This society-driven paradigm can be both beneficial and detrimental. Some are lucky enough to find a balance, utilizing eustress (a healthy, performance-enhancing motivational form of stress) to accomplish their goals. Yet others are drowning in the anxious loop of negative stress, feeling helpless, sleepless and muddy-minded by the overwhelm of life.
The concept of stress we talk about today did not exist 100 years ago. When an actual definition of stress finally came about in the 1930s, it was neither positive nor negative. Hans Selye said stress is “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change”. This means stress is only detrimental if we layer on too much or the wrong kind, exceeding our body or mind’s ability to take force. The term for this overwhelm is “allostatic load”, and once reached, we are no longer in a healthy and sustainable state. The body makes too much cortisol, cannot rejuvenate due to lack of meaningful sleep, and we spiral into disease.
In our physical yoga practice, we apply compassionate, moderate force to stretch and strengthen our bodies. If done properly, our tissues regenerate, blood and chi move more freely, we experience greater range of motion and less dis-ease. But if we apply too much force, we tear muscles, impinge nerves or even fall trying to stuff ourselves into shapes we’re not yet ready to employ. To find balance and enjoy more eustress, we need to utilize the same compassionate, moderate force we tout in yoga class in daily life. Here are some ways your yoga practice can help you befriend your stress:

Flip your perspective.

Research has found that the way you view stress can determine if it is detrimental to your health. This means two people with the exact same job demands but with different views on stress can have two completely different physiological responses!
    •      In practice: Use the mindfulness tools you’ve cultivated in your yoga practice to catch yourself turning to negativity. Can you see your next challenge as an opportunity instead of a chore? Can you view yourself as capable of meeting the challenges you face instead of uncertain of your strength?

Go inward.

You cannot differentiate what you want versus what you’ve simply ingested from the outside world’s expectations without a strong connection to your inner compass. When you come to your mat or to meditation, you strengthen that connection with yourself. Most of us know deep down exactly what we need. It is actually listening to that wise self that is hardest. But if you can weed out what stressors in life are not worth it, you can actually enjoy the eustress of the more rewarding parts of your life.
    • How it works: Practices like meditation and yoga sharpen the prefrontal cortex of the brain or as we call it the watch tower. This higher reasoning is important when deciding what is costing us our vitality and what is actually adding value to this life. Next time you find yourself with the opportunity to take a taxing job, or distraught over a problem, access your higher level perspective. How much will this matter in 5, 10 even 20 years? This will help you decide how much energy mentally and emotionally to invest.

Come to your mat.

Tension in the mind shows up in the body. Conversely, tension in the body shows up in the mind. By taking care of both in a yin or power yoga class, you create a cleansing channel of release in both directions.

Practice non-doing.

In order to dominate your to-do list, you must also take time to rest. While this does not come naturally to many, it may be the most important thing you do for your productivity. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that those who do the slow, rejuvenating practice yin yoga (called Restore at Power Life), sleep better, are more productive and have a more positive view of life. The 3-5 minute passive postures can be challenging for those use to being on-the-go, but the more you practice, the better you become at letting go.

Face the facts.

Truthfulness is an important tenant of yoga philosophy. Once you are honest with yourself about what is worth your efforts and what is not, you need to actually do something about it. Embody it. Make the changes. Quit the job that’s taking you away from your family. Cut the chord on the relationship that does not uplift you. Do the dirty work like you do when you sweat on your mat, and you’ll reap the reward.