Stress is one of the biggest problems of the modern day. Rather than talking about how stress causes all kinds of diseases and creates a hell in life, let us find out how to analyze our stressors. After that we can probably decide how to handle stress better. Let us begin.
Have you taken time lately to decide what stresses you? Many times we find ourselves feeling stressed but we really can’t put our finger on what it is that makes us feel so stressed. There are typical stressors that everybody faces and each person needs to take time to discover which ones are the biggest ones for them. Sometimes stress can be good as it gives us energy but other times it can zap all of our energy.
When considering how to start your presentation, here is a brief list of “don’ts.” Do not start by apologizing, tapping your microphone, or making a joke. A little measured humor in your presentation is fine, but do not start with a joke. Whether you get laughs or not, this is not stand up comedy routine and can get you “side tracked.”
Start with your objective and a brief bio. For example: “Good morning, I am Paul Jerard. How would you like to walk away from this workshop with six solutions to manage everyday stress?” This puts the audience in a positive frame of mind. They are mentally answering you with a “yes,” even if they don’t verbally say it.
In the first part of this two-part article, we discussed, from my viewpoint as career educator of more than 30 years, the fact that preschools and families are increasing stress on preschool children. To clarify, we worked through a brief definition of preschool stress, and looked at the underlying reason for preschool stress.
Finally, we considered the basic requirement of preschool stress relief. We pick up at that point.
Many years ago, children from birth to four or five years of age exercised natural preschool stress relief. Training in preschool stress relief was both unknown and unnecessary. Stay at home mothers never worried about trying to increase self-concept in their preschool children. They did not work to instill artificial coping skills and specialized anger management skills in pre-schoolers. Common sense dictated preschool stress relief efforts.
In the twenty-first century, however, many who themselves mismanage stress are seeking stress relief techniques for a preschool child or children. I have been appalled, both as teacher and principal, to see the negative, detrimental changes since I began my career. While we struggle to instill greater measures of preschool stress relief, we actually increase stress on young children.
Which asanas, or Yoga postures, should you select? How long should you hold each Yoga posture? What is the benefit of holding a Yoga posture for minutes at a time?
Should you start or finish a Yoga class with meditation? How should you incorporate Pranayama within your Yoga class? These are some of the many questions that Yoga teachers must address and find solutions for.
Which asanas or Yoga postures should you select? Some Yoga posture sequencing is considered so important that a few Yoga teachers and Yoga Masters have gone through the trouble of patenting and copywriting them.
Most of the time, prospective Yoga teachers have a very strong foundation in Yoga; but sometimes, they originally come from a related-field, such as Martial Arts, Pilates, Dance, Gymnastics, or Fitness. This is fine, but be prepared for a “learning curve” and do not expect to learn all about Yoga in one Yoga teacher training intensive course. Even if you “lock yourself up” in an ashram for months, you should realize that learning Yoga is a life-long journey and not a race.
Now, if you come from a related field – you have a lot more mental work to do than a long-time student of Yoga. Hatha Yoga is a physical form of Yoga, but being athletic is not as important as the knowledge a Yoga teacher should possess. So, what should you know in order to become a Yoga teacher? Below is a list of what a Hatha Yoga teacher should know in order to successfully teach Yoga classes.
Now that you’re warm (if not, use the “15 Minute Yoga for Detox & Stress Relief: Warm up Part 1″ video) you’re mind and body are ready to experience the benefits of twists and back bends. These seated poses calm the mind, promote healing, and improve digestion & elimination. Try the modifications and create an authentic yoga practice just for you. Namaste.
Depending on your line of work, you may be called upon to give a stress management presentation or organize a workshop. Usually, the person who gives a stress management workshop is a public speaker, physician, counselor, or Yoga teacher.
Who should be the speaker in a stress management seminar or workshop? You are looking for someone who is outgoing, knowledgeable, full of positive energy, works well with the public, and can communicate clearly. This same person should be able to give solutions to stress reduction “off the top of his or her head.”
Here is a simple definition of stress, one which you won’t find in a dictionary….
‘Stress is anything you expend energy on’
Yes, everything you do is stressful. Why? Because it uses up energy from the body.
With society being the way it is, traumatic events, catastrophes, etc are deemed to be stressful, which they are. But these are huge traumas; it is the day to day minor stresses that cause most of your problems.
