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Anger and The American Family: Learn to Respond Rather than React
Case #1. Brianna, 32, would get instantly outraged when her ex-husband threatened to file for custody of their two small children. Deciding to respond differently, she bit her tongue, and remained quiet when he began threatening an escalated legal...
How Stress Leads To Obesity
Stress is associated to most of our lives. It plays havoc in our lives and makes us suffer intense emotional turmoil. It has been estimated that about 80% of all illnesses and health problems are directly or indirectly related to stress and obesity...
How Stressed Out Are You? Take this quiz and see how you rate on your stress level!
Stress, America’s #1 health problem, is a leading cause of major illness. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression are just some of the harmful effects of stress. Research has shown that releasing stress and learning how to relax...
Stress and Health: 8 of the Worst Causes of Stress
What are the situations and circumstances most likely to cause
stress in your life? Are you at risk from any of these? Here are
the most common causes,
Work
According to a recent survey, 40% of workers described their
jobs as very...
Stress Management: New Age Solutions
With the hectic pace of life today, most people experience
stress on a daily basis. The debilitating effects of stress are
such that corporations provide employees with free stress
management programs, an increasing number of people are...
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Using Yoga to Manage ADD
Exercise is a powerful tool for ADD management. Medical professionals recommend that adults get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (such as running or biking) 3-5 times per week to improve their general health. For ADDers, this type of exercise is particularly beneficial, because it may
balance production of neurotransmitters and reduce stress levels. Another form of exercise that ADDers are finding
valuable is yoga. When practiced regularly, yoga offers numerous health benefits, such as increased strength and flexibility, and decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels. However, the greater benefits of yoga are arguably the psychological ones. Yoga combines physical activity with
self-awareness, which promotes a mind-body connection that many ADDers lack.
When ADDers report challenges with impulsivity and hyperactivity, they often describe feeling like they don’t
have control over their own bodies. They find themselves speaking before thinking their thoughts through, and often regret their words. They constantly fidget, unaware that their bubbling energy can be disruptive to others in work and social situations. And they feel as if they simply
cannot stop the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in their heads.
Yoga can help ADDers learn how to forge a mind-body connection that promotes self-awareness and self-control.
Yoga practitioners are taught deep breathing and relaxation techniques that help center the mind in the present moment. Practitioners are also guided into holding different postures, called asanas. Each asana is held for an extended period of time, as the
Associated Websites
practitioner focuses on holding the
best posture that they can, while breathing calmly and deeply. The asanas promote stretching, strengthening, and
balancing, as the deep breathing promotes relaxation and mental awareness.
It is important to remember that yoga is not meant to be stressful or taxing on the body. People should be ncouraged
to concentrate only on themselves and not the others in the class, and to do only what feels comfortable. A practitioner should never feel pressured to perform. If an ADDer finds
him/herself at a yoga class that moves too quickly, or focuses heavily on strength training, they will not reap the intended benefits, and may find themselves overwhelmed. The best place to find yoga instruction is at a yoga center, where the instructors practice yoga as a way of life, and teach both the physical and psychological components.
Yoga can help ADDers feel calm, centered, in control, and in
touch with their bodies. Practiced regularly, ADDers will find that yoga is a powerful mental and physical refresher that they can retreat to when feeling out of control or overwhelmed.
© Copyright 2004
About the Author
Jennifer Koretsky is a Professional ADD Management Coach who helps adults manage their ADD and move forward in life. She offers a 90-day intensive skill-building program, workshops, and private coaching. Her work has been featured in numerous media, including The New York Times Magazine and The Times (UK). To subscribe to Jennifer’s free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, please visit http://www.addmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm
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