Of all the concepts you will ever learn in a Yoga class, stress management workshop, or a combination of both, embracing stress seems to be the most difficult. Yet, we can improve our lives exponentially by accepting stress as a friend.

If you have learned how to cope with stress through pranayama (Yogic breathing techniques), asana (Yoga postures), exercises, meditation, relaxation, affirmations, and many more techniques, you have all of the tools to peacefully co-exist with stressful situations, which arise during the course of a day.

You may understand Santosha (contentment and acceptance), but you are still puzzled by this idea of embracing stress, because you see stress as an enemy of good health. It is true that excessive or chronic stress is the cause of many ailments, diseases, and death, so how can I ask you to embrace it?

Once you have managed to reduce your stress levels, with Yoga's stress management techniques, you have taken a positive step toward good health. At this point, take a closer look at stress to see it for what it really is. Stress is a destroyer of health, but it can also be the creator of innovation.

You see, some of us need manageable amounts of stress for optimum performance in life. For some people stress is "life force." In Yoga, we think of prana as life force, but for those who never heard of prana, stress is a driving force that sends people toward success or failure.

Without stress, there would be no excitement in life. People line up for coffee to experience a caffeine jolt, just to get a taste of manageable stress. In Hatha Yoga, we often perform Sun Salutations, in the morning, to get the blood pumping; but we also take our minds and bodies to manageable stress levels in the process.

As a result of observing the benefits of moderate stimulation to the body and mind, please try to view stress as a "spice of life." Too much stress puts your health at risk and can damage your vital organs. On the other hand, if life has no challenges, it becomes a very dull experience. The answer is a moderate lifestyle.

We really have no choice, if we want to live the best quality life. Extremes, of all kinds, tend to prematurely age us. Yogic philosophy is founded upon moderation in one's lifestyle. There should never be extremes in the Yogic diet, asana, pranayama, or anything else.

?Copyright 2009 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications