Finding Calm Amidst The Chaos With Yoga

by Nicole Shields

Nicole Shields

We live in a World where stress & anxiety are increasingly commonplace, with the top 3 stress responses being insomnia, irritability or anger and fatigue. Even kids today are suffering from stress & anxiety. Money, work, family responsibilities, relationship issues & personal health concerns top the adult list. Unfortunately, many of us then create habits such as smoking, drinking & over-eating (just to name a few) to reduce stress, not realizing that many of these short-term solutions are ultimately sources of further stress & anxiety.

Not surprisingly the pharmaceutical industry sees a marketing opportunity in this, selling billions of dollars in antidepressant prescription drugs. While prescription drugs are vitally necessary for some people, many others might find a more wholesome & sustainable solution through mind-body awareness practices such as Yoga & Meditation, Essential Oils, Massage & Kinesiology to name a few.

Students come to yoga classes with a wide array of emotional conditions. The practice of Yoga helps them to create a space for healing emotional traumas or knots (samskaras) formed in the subtle, energetic body and manifested in the physical body & mind. Our goal is to hold space for healing and awakening to a more holistic & integrated body, breath & mind, a greater sense of self & the heart – a feeling of contentment (santosa).

Yoga is the union of mind, body & soul, involving physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation practices combined to create a state of steadiness, comfort & ease, of being present in connecting body, breath & mind in the present moment.

Yoga & Relaxation classes take place every Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 6:30am, 9:30am & 6pm at Wellness Centre Port Stephens