Reading and Yoga. So far in my life, these are the only two healthy ways I have found to force relaxation. And yes, I have to force it. I am terrible at relaxing. I never do it, and really, I don’t know how–at least not in any health conscious way. But that is a different story. Reading helps me to focus my mind. When I feel overwhelmed and stressed out and like my mind is all over the place with worries, I read. I read a novel or a story or a magazine article and force my brain to pay attention to what I am doing. This way, I lose track of whatever is stressing me out, at least temporarily. If you are like me and reading has this affect on you, then I’m sure you know exactly what I mean here, or maybe you don’t.
Yoga is the other activity that I use to force myself to relax. Sadly, I rarely go anymore. I discovered it a few years back and went religiously for some time, but then just gave it up completely, ironically, because of lack of time. Pretty sad that I can’t find time to relax. I do go the gym a lot, at least a few times a week, and this has a similar effect on me, but not quite as intense. Every time I go to the gym I walk by the yoga studio, which is inclusive in my membership, and I think about how I should grab a schedule of classes and start going again. I feel equally determined to begin again each time I walk by, but alas, I have not so far. But I love to swim laps and then go sit in the jacuzzi and/or sauna. It feels like a miniature oasis to me and I feel so good when I leave. Swimming seems like the most healthy exercise to me, both for your body and your mind. I love being in and under the water. When I was growing up in Va Beach, I would swim in the ocean almost every day. And even now, whenever I go home to visit, that is the first thing I do. I love to dive under the waves and feel the current rush over my body. But eventually I come up from under the wave or I leave the gym or I the novel is over, and it is back to life as I know it.
Reading and Yoga: A Likely Combination?
January 23, 2008 by s2jbgord
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i read your post about the restaurant you owned and how crazy and insane it must be to own a resturant. I mean my boyfriend’s family owns a place that i have been working at almost 3 years and i swear sometimes the effort is so stressing.Especially being close to the bosses and having to sometimes be one yourself. Having to deal with kissing ass, and mexicans, and scheduals, and exuses, and cussings, and ticket screw ups, and lost orders, and were out of this and that, and messes, and cockroaches. maybe not as bad. i can see where the headache comes from when trying to sell a restaurant much less run one. I give you a lot of credit because i have seen how much work it takes to keep one rolling. so i can see where the stress is coming into. you are kind of repeating yourself in a small way in each one of your journal entries which i think serves as a small bit of stress relief. everyone has there own personal ways, and i think that the combination of yoga and reading you menchin in this entry fits you beyond well from well from what i can see.
-molly
Wow, I do Yoga and I Read. Those are my main triggers of relaxation. It’s very useful in my life. I also try to go to the gym, but it’s too cold today.
My two favorite things are napping and reading. Unfortunately I do more napping. Its probably the best tried and true way of getting rid of the thoughts in your head. Unless you dream about them, which I rarely do. I always dream the things I thought of the day before. It’s strange. As for reading, once you really get into a book, especially a novel, it’s the only thing in my head and I just need to keep reading all day. It’s disappointing when it’s 1 in the morning and you really need to go to bed, and so you get mad that you have to choose between sleep and a few more chapters. I just read the book Atonement because I saw the previews for the movie on tv and I wanted to read it first. While I was reading it, it consumed me. During the day while I had time I would be so excited about going back to open it up again and finding where on the page I had left off. I love that feeling because if anything stressed me out at all I knew I could go and think of something better.
I totally understand where you are coming from Ms. G. It pretty much sucks to be stressed out but that’s life I guess. I tried yoga once… that was interesting and yes, VERY intense. I do loved to swim though especially under water. But a lot of times my vision prevents that. I can’t wear my glasses under water and although I can wear goggles with my contacts, goggles aren’t always reliable neither. Sometimes reading relaxes me, if it is a book of my choice. I stree so much at times that once my mom went to the public library and got me a book on meditation and told me to read it. It worked for a while actually but of course, life got in the way and eventually I didn’t have time for it or was just too tired to meditate. I think you should begin yoga again Ms. G.