Many of us would agree that life is more stressful now than ever before – and this is not just a subjective judgment. A team of researchers at Penn State found that study participants reported significantly more daily stress and lowered wellbeing in recent decades as compared to the 1990s.
What Your Negative Thinking Might be Doing to Your Brain (and How to Fix It)
We often hear that we are what we eat, but we’re also what we think. Like many things in life, negativity can become a habit. When you think negative thoughts, those thoughts affect your emotions. Your emotions, in turn, affect your behavior. If you are thinking negative thoughts a lot, most likely, you are dealing with negative emotions like sadness, depression, apathy, anxiety, fear, and more.
What is Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Why You Need to Do It
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a stretching, meditation, and muscle relaxation technique wrapped up into one simple practice. Though it can benefit many systems, this practice, first introduced by American physician Edmund Jacobson in the 1930s, is primarily used as an anxiety-reduction technique. It is a way to relieve tension in your body, help reduce stress and anxiety, and soothe aching muscles, without any medication or equipment. PMR utilizes mindful tensing of the muscles and breathing patterns to loosen tight muscles and make you realize areas of stress and pain in each of your muscle groups.
3 Reasons to Use an Acupressure Mat and How to Do It
Acupressure seems to be the most recent craze in the world of acupuncture, reflexology, meditation, and other alternative wellness remedies. However, this practice has actually been around for thousands of years in China and India, and only the recent popularity of the uber-convenient acupressure mat has caused it to gain traction in more western settings. So what exactly is an acupressure mat and how can you use it safely and effectively right from home?
8 Amazing Ways Mindfulness Can Make You A Better Athlete
From reduced stress to improved mood, mindfulness has gained a rep for being healthy for your body and brain. Many studies show that consistent mindfulness practice helps grow new neural pathways. These pathways can give you better focus and emotional stability, while reducing the size of the stress areas of the brain. New research shows that mindfulness can make you a better athlete by rewiring your brain for more body-mind awareness, pain management and overall improved well-being. [Read more…]