Thoughts on Yoga
yoga e-course lesson 2: more ways to stop worry
2009-08-06
The worry habit is insidious and deep for many people. Worry wears down your immune defenses and paves the way for illness. It also takes the joy out of your life.You have the power to stop worrying forever once you see worry for what it is. It is a CHOICE to FEEL BAD. You can choose the opposite at any time. Here's how:
1) Learn to recognize worry when it's happening: You are thinking about the future or far-away circumstances in a negative way that makes your body and mind feel bad.
2) Switch your attention immediately to something positive.--Notice anything in your present environment that you appreciate or enjoy. This could be a beautiful scene, a comfortable chair, the presence of a loved one--anything you can feel good about.
3) Hold the new, positive idea in your mind until your body relaxes and lets go of the fear. You may need to immerse your mind for several minutes in many powerfully positive ideas in order get results.
If this sounds like a lot of mental work, it is! You must learn to take back control of your thoughts and emotions and become the master of your life again. This is the price of inner peace.
Fortunately, yoga postures, breathing and meditation make it a lot easier. In yoga class, you will pactice mental and physical relaxation under the supervision of an experienced coach. You learn how to listen in and stop those worry thoughts before they get big enough to hurt you. You also learn how to tell your body to calm down any time you want.
Through yoga you master your thoughts and emotions to create positive outcomes for yourself and others.
If you have been a worrier for a long time, you will need to switch your worry thoughts many times a day. The good news is that from the first time you do this technique correctly, you will feel immediate relief.