Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month?
According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 75% of Americans regularly experience psychological and physical symptoms caused by stress. As they define it, stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed, worried or run-down. Of those, 76% reported work and financial obligations as the leading cause of their stress. Other commonly reported stressors included health, relationships, poor nutrition, media overload, and sleep deprivation.
While many of us are unable to shift our work or financial obligations, we can actively take part in activities known to reduce stress. Eating better, exercising more, and getting adequate sleep are all effective in lowering the burden of stress. Additionally, incorporating breaks and moments to be mindful into our routines can lead to less stressful days.
The idea behind mindfulness is simple: being fully present in the current moment means that we cannot be worrying about the past or the future. Taking the time to enjoy a cup of tea before or after yoga practice is a great way to promote this type of mindfulness. (And sharing tea with a friend is even more effective as social isolation can be yet another source of stress.)
Another commonly reported way Americans are mitigating stress? Practicing yoga. According to the APA, yoga can help strengthen social attachments, reduce stress and relieve anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
So, to encourage your own stress relief practices this Stress Awareness Month, we've partnered with AdZENtures Yoga, an Austin-based company that specializes in pairing yoga with other special interests, for a ten-minute yoga flow that is great for beginners and experts alike.
Meet us on the mat to unwind and check back this week for additional insights on how tea can help with stress relief.
Looking for additional yoga resources? You can find AdZENtures on Instagram or Facebook or join them for a retreat.