Last Updated on November 13, 2024 by Erin Blair
Kate Kendall, Co-Founder & Director of Yoga at Flow Athletic shares three natural strategies – including breathwork, yoga, and meditation – for managing ongoing stress in daily life.
Experiencing stress and worry is a normal part of life. However, at times it may feel overwhelming.
There are various natural approaches that may help with managing feelings of stress and worry. Practices such as meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, exercise like yoga, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle adjustments are some options to consider.
The best coping strategies for stress and worry vary from person to person, and the type or intensity of the strategy required will depend on the unique circumstances.
Metta Meditation
This type of meditation from Buddhism involves sending loving-kindness to others. The intention is to cultivate compassion and kindness toward all beings, including yourself.
How to:
- Find a quiet place to sit or lie down, and focus on the rhythm of your breath.
- Visualise someone you love and internally say:
- “May you be safe.”
- “May you be well.”
- “May you feel loved and at peace.”
- Next, visualise someone you feel resistance toward and repeat these same words while maintaining a visualisation of them.
- Finally, visualise yourself as a child and repeat the lines above.
Allow yourself to stay with the feelings of kindness and calm for a few moments afterward.
Grounding Breath
This breathwork technique is intended to help calm the nervous system and encourage relaxation, particularly when feeling off-centre.
How to:
Repeat this pattern for two to five minutes.
Stop for a moment and, if possible, sit down (though this can also be done while standing).
Lengthen your exhalation and gently draw your navel toward your spine.
Inhale for a count of three, hold for three, exhale for six, and hold out for three.
Supta Baddha Konasana
This reclined butterfly pose in yoga helps open the hips and chest, which may encourage relaxation. Lying in a reclined posture can be calming and help ease physical tension.
How to:
- Lie down and bring the soles of your feet together, allowing your knees to fall to the side.
- Place your arms by your sides or lift them above your head, resting opposite elbows on the ground.
- You can apply the Grounding Breathwork technique here as well for added relaxation.
Experimenting with different strategies can allow you to choose an approach based on the level of stress you’re experiencing and the setting you’re in.
To book a one-on-one breathwork or yoga session with Kate Kendall, please click here.
