Wendel AbelWendel Abel
HOW DO stress and emotions affect the body? When an individual experiences stress the body mounts a stress reaction. This stress reaction involves the release of a number of hormones such as cortisol and other brain chemicals in the body. Just think how you feel when you receive bad news or hear the screeching of a car. This is the stress response; it is associated with an increase in heart rate, sweating and shortness of breath.
Long-term exposure to stress is associated with a number of diseases including stomach ulcers, skin diseases, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, migraine, depression and fibromyalgia (a condition resulting in pain and tenderness all over the body). Stress aggravates conditions such as diabetes, lupus, cancer, heart disease and many others. Persons who are able to manage stress enjoy better health and improved quality of life.
What is yoga? "It is a way of life, it is not a religion," says Dada Paravidyanda, instructor of the Ananda Marga Yoga Centre in Jamaica. Yoga literally means 'union' and it is a technique that involves breathing, movements and meditation and allows an individual to integrate the mind and body. The practice of yoga allows one to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the body; it improves circulation to all the organs of the body and calms the brain and the nervous systems.
RELAXATION AND THE BODY
Prayer, yoga and deep breathing are 'mind-body interventions' and researchers at Harvard University have shown that these mind-body interventions result in the 'relaxation response'. Mind-body interventions such as yoga allows one to manage stress and its impact on the body and are becoming very popular worldwide including Jamaica.
How does the relaxation response help us? The relaxation response affects certain areas of the brain that control emotions, the release of brain chemicals and the release of hormones. This relaxation response may reduce the effects of long-term stress on the body. During relaxation the body produces chemicals such as nitric oxide and these chemicals reduce the effects of toxic substances produced by the body during stress.
YOGA DOES WORK
Michele Depass, is a physical therapist and an avid yoga practitioner, she said recently that, "Yoga for me is connecting the mind and the body. It is a total work out. It allows me to reason better and to unwind. I am better able to centre myself with consciousness."
The effects of yoga include: The relaxation and development of the mind, the reduction in stress, anxiety and depression; improvement in mental clarity and concentration, an increase in creativity and the development of a greater sense of well-being. It can have beneficial effects on every one, both children and adults. It is encouraged in pregnancy and is practised by many women during labour to reduce pain and facilitate smoother delivery. Yoga is used to enhance the development of children with special needs such as Down's syndrome, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
For adolescents it provides an excellent opportunity to manage stress, it aids concentration and may enhance studying and it may provide benefits for people who have problems with alcohol, drugs and aggression.
There is a clear connection between the mind and body and more persons are embracing this for better health and improved quality of life. A number of yoga centres are located in Jamaica. Check them out!
Dr. Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer, University of the West Indies; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
