Guest blogger Allison Brooks contributed this article in timely fashion for those making resolutions for the new year.
It ties with one of mine — to let go, stop obsessing about what was and instead, concentrate on doing what will lead to positive outcomes. It’s a monumental feat for those of us with chronic illness and pain. Yet new studies show that exercise, stretching and laughter are the best things you can do for your health, no matter how much it hurts. Allison poses some less strenuous ways to ease into the habit.
As the holiday season winds down and the New Year approaches, everyone begins their talks of losing weight, getting fit and not eating carbs and so on. But before you deprive yourself of chocolate and ice-cream, and forcing yourself to go the gym, sit down and think about new ways to enjoy reaching your goals. One way to accomplish this is through yoga. I know you are probably thinking, but “I am not flexible” and “I cannot put my foot behind my head,” but that is why new alternative forms of yoga are perfect.
No matter what your physical condition or goal, there is a form of yoga out there for you. Below is a list of a few to get the ball rolling and you into a local studio.
One way to have a fun end-of-the-week stress reliever is laughter yoga. This yoga might not get your whole body tone, but it will work out the body core and ease the mind. There are many yoga studios around the country offering this form, and many nursing homes and hospitals are also jumping on the bandwagon. Because laughter yoga has been noted to reduce stress considerably, many elderly patients and people with an aggressive cancer diagnosis like a non-hodgkin’s lymphoma or mesothelioma prognosis have adopted laughter yoga. In this form of yoga, there are not many physically intense poses and movements, so the effects are comparable to the mental and spiritual ones felt after a traditional yoga session.
A fun way to set a goal and stick with it is to grab a friend or significant other to try AcroYoga. This is considered an alternative to the asanas, and combines acrobatics, healing arts, and traditional poses to produce a fun, yet strenuous yoga. Since the poses rely on the participation of two people (the base and the flyer), AcroYoga is perfect for friends. The lifting and holding of poses, tones every inch of the body and the relaxing movements at the end of the class offer mental ease.
And saving the best for last, there is AntiGravity yoga. This yoga is just fun for the adult-kids out there that love traditional yoga with a twist. Instead of practicing the poses on a mat, students hang and stretch from a silky hammock. This is a physically intense yoga and relies on great upper body strength and control. Pilates, calisthenics, and acrobatics are combined for an all-in-one yoga class.
So as you start to plan out your new years’ resolutions, keep in mind these forms of yoga and any other. Not only will they help you achieve your goals, but yoga is great to use every day for a stress reliever and workout.
We encourage your feedback. How do you cope with stress and chronic illness?
