There is a significant link between a person’s breathing patterns and state of mind. While many people may not recognize the connection, to experienced yoga practitioners it is a simple statement of fact.

Yoga teachers also believe that while shallow and rapid breathing can be a consequence of stress, if this breathing pattern is the norm the body maintains a more stressful state.

Take notice of how you breathe if you are startled. This is when you will find yourself doing a quick inhalation primarily to only your upper lungs.

If this kind of rapid chest breathing becomes habitual, it causes the body’s stress response to be continually activated. This persistent undercurrent builds chronic stress, with all its debilitating effects. Continue reading →

Unfortunately, as more people are diagnosed with stress-related disorders the use of prescription medications to mitigate their effects has also become more prevalent.

Although these drugs provide short-term relief from some symptoms of stress, many experts claim that they also dull the mind as they depress certain brain activity.

The concern is that this will make it even more difficult for patients to engage in reducing the real cause of their stress.

However, it is important to note that prescription medications are not the only answer! For a great many people, the effects of stress can be prevented or reduced by the use of essential oils. Continue reading →