The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Your Stress

What is the effect of emotional stress and how can we manage this?MeditationMantraBreathDaily Habits + RoutineFind a GuideProducts and Resources to help you Reduce Your Stress

Nov 21

Written By Kathryn McCusker

Many things can contribute to feeling stressed. You might feel stressed because of one big event or situation in your life, or it might be a build-up of lots of smaller things. Today, we all face enormous pressures in every aspect of our lives, whether it is through work, home or relationships. More and more people are suffering from burnout, depression and other psychological problems. Many of these factors are beyond our control, so having a toolbox to navigate how you deal with stress is essential to reducing and managing your stress levels.

What is the effect of emotional stress and how can we manage this?

Emotional Stress doesn’t only affect our mental well-being, it is also a major cause of physical illness. The mind and the body are inextricably linked, and the systems within the mind that process emotions are intimately connected with the nervous system and immune system.

But there is one technique that is both accessible to all and effective in counteracting these negative effects and that is – meditation. Kundalini meditation is a powerful science that can help us to put aside the thoughts that burden the mind, create stress and cause illness in the body.

Meditation

Kundalini meditation combines powerful and effective techniques such as breathing, mudras (hand gestures) and mantras (sacred sounds) to accelerate the process toward a neutral, meditative mind. It is an extraordinarily powerful practice that we can all integrate into our everyday lives to transform the way that we react to stress.

Mantras

Mantra is a form of meditation using a sound, word, or phrase, continually recited silently of out loud, and are often combined with breath and rhythm. The practice of mantra meditation is said to help slow down thoughts, improve mental clarity, and enhance peace of mind.

There have been scientific studies performed to showcase the positive effects of mantra meditation on reducing levels of anxiety. In one study conducted in 2000 using MRI scans, they found that practicing mantra meditation activates a part of the nervous system that regulates bodily functions involved in anxiety, such as heart rate, respriitatory rate and blood pressure.

Try this mantra meditation practice next time you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out: Mantra for Relaxation

Breath

When we are feeling stressed out, simply observing the breath and coming back to the rhythm of the breath can help to regulate the nervous system and bring us back into the present moment. Deep, diaphragmatic breathing enables more air to flow into your body and can help calm your nerves, reducing stress and anxiety.

Daily Habits + Routines

Forming habits that you can make part of your routine can help you manage everyday stress. Sticking to a regular mindfulness practice, such as taking a yoga class, doing a daily meditation practice with a lavender eye mask, or having a hot bath with Epsom salts and creating a relaxing wind-down routine can aid in relaxation. Adding these healthy habits into your daily life can help mitigate feelings of worry and anxiety, and provide you with tools to navigate times of stress.

Find a Guide

Navigating Stress by yourself can be overwhelming, so finding a teacher or guide to help you on your journey can provide you with support and accountability.