Overcoming Stress, Episode 2: Deep Breathing & Yoga

Sales Man Up

Overcoming Stress, Episode 2: Deep Breathing & Yoga

If I feel frustrated in a situation, I take a deep breath and walk away. - Iman

An inspiration - a long, deep breath of the pure air of thought - could alone give health to the heart.  - Richard Jefferies

Yoga is the best holistic workout and body toner there is. It sorts out a chaotic mind and calms the body - it is how I de-stress - or stop myself getting stressed in the first place. - Trudie Styler

I cannot remember the first yoga class I went to. It probably involved my wife, who is a yoga instructor. Yeah, there was an awkward feeling that crept up my spine, not knowing the calls for the yoga positions. I didn’t know the difference between an upward dog, downward dog, or a runaway dog; but I fumbled along, doing my best. There was also the fact that I was the only dude in an estrogen rich class; but I had heard that yoga relieves stress, so I stayed focused on my practice.  I thoroughly enjoyed the outcome - feeling like I had just emerged from a one hour session with a chiropractor or a deep tissue massage. I noticed that when I went to bed that evening, and I took a deep breath, my vertebrae popped (in a relaxing way); and my sleep was deeper. As a matter of fact, I have been told that the deep breathing that takes place within a yoga practice is as important as the movements themselves. Our anxiety ridden culture can cause us to breathe in a shallow manner, preventing much needed oxygen from entering our system. Learning to breathe deeply from our belly or diaphragm is the type of therapeutic breathing that we all  need. Like a Times of India article stated: “ When one goes through anxiety, the body undergoes a sea
change. And experts say that one of the best ways to overcome high levels of anxiety is to do breathing exercises, which help produce endorphins to help calm you down.”

Times of India further lists in a September 2017 article, the following advantages of deep breathing exercises:

• Natural pain killer
• Improves blood flow
• Increases energy level
• Improves posture
• Helps the lymphatic system
• Reduces inflammation
• Relaxes the mind and body

Reflecting back over the last eight years of practicing yoga, I cannot remember ever regretting the time I invested in completing a one hour session. Yoga forces me to slow down , connect my mind and body, and learn to breathe deeply. One of the things I had to discover was that not all yoga classes are the same; and not all teachers instruct in the same manner. You have to find a class and a teacher that works for you. Unless you’re a Triathlete, PLEASE do NOT begin your yoga journey with Hot yoga ! For the seasoned yogis reading this, understand that I am not hating on this hardcore yoga practice ; but know that a new runner wouldn’t wake up one morning, and decide to grind out a marathon! From my experience with yoga, a simple vinyasa or flow or even restorative yoga class is a great way to begin. ( For the Road Warriors out there, check out the DownDog App or a streamed session from Beth Shaw for a hotel room workout. ) Look for a teacher who has a calm demeanor, a soothing voice, and  possesses a good working knowledge of human physiology . A good instructor will be sensitive to the physical state of all their students and will provide alternate poses for more difficult moves. Remember, the objective in yoga is to relax and connect - not to stress out! This is an environment where there is no competition or expectations. Yoga is not a competitive sport. Yoga sessions are called “practice”, not “perfection “. In yoga, there are no sales quotas, reports, forecasting, or deadlines. Just for today, leave those things behind and embrace deep breathing and fluid movement; and feel the stress slide off of your back onto the floor ! As one of my former restorative yoga instructors use to remind us in the middle of executing a pose, “Breathe !” . To your health !

Become slower in your journey through life. Practice yoga and meditation if you suffer from 'hurry sickness.' Become more introspective by visiting quiet places such as churches, museums, mountains and lakes. Give yourself permission to read at least one novel a month for pleasure. -Wayne Dyer

Overcoming Stress: Episode 1

Sales Man Up

Overcoming Stress: Episode 1

If you want to see what your thoughts were like yesterday, look at your body today. If you want to see what your body will look like tomorrow , look at your thoughts today.  - Old Indian saying

Hans Selye once wrote,  “ It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it. “ Who doesn’t experience some level of stress ? The breakneck pace of our lives filled with business meetings, presentations, appointments, traffic, family commitments, scheduling conflicts and don't forget , expense reports ; can be mind-boggling if you try to take it all in at once. For the average person, and especially today’s modern business professional, it is easy to feel overwhelmed .

In a 2017 article published on Web MD, the following statistics were listed concerning stress:

• Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
• Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments or complaints.
• Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression and anxiety.

In a connected article, Web MD listed four ways to fight back against stress:

1. Breathe deeply
2. Focus on the moment
3. Reframe the moment
4. Keep your problem in perspective - be grateful

In the following series of articles dealing with stress, I’d like to briefly touch on each of these areas over the period of the next few weeks. Why am I , as a professional salesperson, spending time discussing stress and exploring how we can reduce it ? Shouldn’t I just be focusing on the numbers and bringing in more sales ? Hmmm, it’s hard to sell when you’re dead. Like many of you who are reading this blog, I have dealt with this malady in my own life and health,  and I am learning how to manage it day by day. Additionally, over the past year that I have been blogging at Sales Man Up, the highest number of reads in my history was related to dealing with anxiety and stress. I believe this is a pressure point for many people, no matter what your station is in life, myself included. Stress is an unwanted guest in our house, and it simply will not leave on its own. Like Mark Twain wrote concerning bad habits, “ Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs one step at a time. “ The scientific facts stand screaming in front of our face like a Drill Instructor yelling at his recruits. Stress is killing us ( or at least our reaction to it is…), and it is up to each one of us to choose to do something about it . My hope is that this blog can help you find some tools to do so over the month of September. To your health !

Letting go helps us to to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations that do not belong to us. This frees us from unnecessary stress. - Melody Beattie