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Old 02-11-16, 10:30 PM  
momofcha
 
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Mental/calmness benefits from CS or only yoga?

I'm looking for some de-stressing & I'm thinking of trying to find some yoga. I've tried for years to like yoga, but I've been unsuccessful. I need something to calm my mind & destress & I also want to stay limber/flexible. Would CS & Essentrics work or should I look for another yoga program??
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Old 02-11-16, 11:48 PM  
BunnyHop
 
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Somehow yoga and I just don't get along, for all that I honestly believe it helped me some years back. It's the sort of thing I wish I could stick to, but never actually manage to do on a regular basis.

I get along better with stuff that involves fairly continuous movement and the breath. Tai chi is sorta like that, but since I discovered CS/Essentrics, I haven't investigated it more. CS and I seem to get along fine, so that's what I do. I've heard it said that CS is like a combo of tai chi, physical therapy and, what ballet? Sounds about right to me. Breath work, movement and range of motion exercises, all in one.

In terms of meditation, I also am doing yoga nidra, which is a conscious relaxation type guided meditation. The only real breath work type meditation I do is to sit and breathe, using a string of beads to track my breaths (so I don't have to count).
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Old 02-11-16, 11:51 PM  
lrb04
 
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I think CS has a calming effect but different than yoga/stretching and it depends on the yoga practice. CS is toning with stretch which you get what you put into it. Stretching & non power yoga has a destressing element to it. I am in a different frame of mind when I do yoga/stretching even more so than CS. Yoga is a calmer & slower pace whereas CS which is more flowing workout! Stretching also has a calming effect. I do all 3 & I find each has their benefit. There are many different kinds of yoga, you should find one that agrees with you. I like more stretchy yogas & some strength/power yogas. When I kick off my shoes, it is the start of destressing..
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Old 02-12-16, 12:23 AM  
bzar
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in general, i think you can make the argument that almost anything can calm your mind - the key is finding what that might be.

with yoga, it depends on what kind and which instructor. for example, people swear by kundalini yoga, and the first one i tried i didn't like! then later i tried some other instructors, and it was a lot better. despite finding a kundalini DVD that was OK w/me, i still gravitate to the same, non-kundalini instructors. each night, i do yoga, and it helps me sleep.

about 5 years ago, i got into guided meditation, and truly grew from that. i really feel a sense of calm and mindfulness.

i also tried qi gong, which was a great experience as well.

before i exercised consistently, i found alot of calmness from my hobbies.

the key, again, is just finding something for yourself.
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Old 02-12-16, 01:04 AM  
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Originally Posted by bzar View Post
in general, i think you can make the argument that almost anything can calm your mind - the key is finding what that might be.
Yes!
You might want to try a little yoga - there are lots of free practices on YouTube. You could also try a month of Essentrics tv and see how you like it.
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Old 02-12-16, 07:00 AM  
Demeris
 
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Research shows that patterned repetitive rhythmic movement does wonders to calm the mind. The brain organizes around it. It's often prescribed for affective disorders.

Walking, swimming, dancing, CS, knitting, crochet--all these calm the mind.

I don't know about yoga because yoga hurts my knees and back.

I also want to give a shout out to keeping a regular journal. It's cheap therapy--the cost of pen and paper (or opening a word document). Even doing just the 3 morning pages suggested by Julia Cameron can help clear and calm the mind. If you want to do something online, 750words.com offers great encouragement.
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Old 02-12-16, 08:00 AM  
bubbles76
 
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I agree with Bzar. Somehow, Jari Love is calming for me. I have very little experience with Classical Stretch, but in just looking at some videos online I don't see how it can't be meditative.
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Old 02-12-16, 11:38 AM  
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Yoga has many benefits, but I have never found it to be the "miracle cure" for all the ailments that it is claimed to be. That being said, I really like Barbara Benagh's Yoga For Stress Relief:

http://www.videofitness.com/reviewsd...ew.php?id=3214


The best thing I have found for de-stressing is guided meditation. It doesn't have to be sitting there for 45 minutes staring at a candle. It can just be being mindful of breathing, eating, walking, etc.

Here is a thread with links (some might not be active) to FREE guided meditations:

http://forum.videofitness.com/showthread.php?t=193291


ETA: Here is a link to some Belleruth Naperstek Stress meditations you can listen to or download:

http://www.healthjourneys.com/kaiser...ieveStress.asp

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Old 02-12-16, 01:41 PM  
bzar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Demeris View Post
Research shows that patterned repetitive rhythmic movement does wonders to calm the mind. The brain organizes around it. It's often prescribed for affective disorders.

Walking, swimming, dancing, CS, knitting, crochet--all these calm the mind.

I don't know about yoga because yoga hurts my knees and back.

I also want to give a shout out to keeping a regular journal. It's cheap therapy--the cost of pen and paper (or opening a word document). Even doing just the 3 morning pages suggested by Julia Cameron can help clear and calm the mind. If you want to do something online, 750words.com offers great encouragement.
thanks for these reminders!

I went back to taking classical piano lessons about 14 years ago (it didn't last too long because I found out I was pregnant!). but I noticed that the focus needed to practice got rid of a lot of stress! I couldn't explain it. my piano teacher said it's common.
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Miyagi: Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important.
[walks away, still making circular motions with hands] ~ Pat Morita, The Karate Kid, 1984


disclosure: in the years 2002-2004 i had a professional relationship with a distributor of fitness videos; see profile.
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Old 02-12-16, 02:13 PM  
yogapam
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Demeris View Post
Research shows that patterned repetitive rhythmic movement does wonders to calm the mind. The brain organizes around it. It's often prescribed for affective disorders.

Walking, swimming, dancing, CS, knitting, crochet--all these calm the mind.
Agreed!
I feel quite relaxed after yoga or CS, but swimming is what really does it for me. I come out of the water feeling totally refreshed and rejeuvenated. So you may need to try a few different things to find out what works best for you.
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Certified Level 4 Essentrics Instructor - March 2021

Hatha YTT - 2011

Your body keeps an accurate journal regardless of what you write down.....

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."
Jim Rohn

"It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” - Tony Robbins

Check out my Instagram account, @fitness.ficti0n.inspirati0n
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