Anxiety: Stress hormone overload combat

By clicking on Anxiety Disorder on the Labels list in the sidebar, you will be shown my posts included in this series. I aim to write posts about my experience with anxiety, as a way of recording, a way of understanding and a way of hopefully helping others. 

You may have heard about the fight or flight response? This is the modern description given to the natural reaction of the body when exposed to threat or danger. When a person is stressed or anxious, this response kicks in, causing the release of adrenaline and cortisol hormones. This is the bodies readying to either fight or run. When the threat is gone, then things return to normal.

Me, just me

Age: 36 and 3/4

Breakfast regime: Yoga or walk, shower, Uncle Tobys Oats with honey and lite milk, Green Tea with Jasmine

Can't Live Without: Family, Internet connection, hugs, creative outlet

Gaining knowledge and experience

Did you get my three words last week? Yoga, Retreat, Weekend.

Now I can finally put them together for you and tell you about my amazing experience of a refreshing weekend retreat full of Yoga, relaxation and revitalisation.



I joined 5 others (one of which was my Mum) at this private location which fully caters for the experience we signed up for through Adult Education.

The host and Yoga instructor, Kathy Rudolf, provides vegetarian fare all weekend, not to mention the comforts of her retreat which are plentiful.

The varieties of tea was abundant, the atmosphere was relaxing, and the scenery was breath-taking. 

We took advantage of the nice weather to take a couple of strolls along the beach and coast line, then along the road from the retreat. Both offered an easy walk and lovely scenery.

Our schedule included breakfast, lunch and dinner, morning and afternoon Yoga sessions, an evening relaxation session, and plenty of time in between to relax, go for a walk, read, rest or even use the Sauna.

The retreat sleeps 12 and the downstairs area is ideal for Yoga and relaxation with the view of Deep Bay through the french doors.

Our group of six and Kathy spent quite a bit of time sitting around the table sharing stories and getting to know each other. Our conversations covered a lot of ground over the course of the weekend.

You can see more photos and read about the Retreat experience at the website here.

I came away from the weekend feeling more relaxed and refreshed and with much more knowledge of Yoga and the body than my DVD could ever offer me.

Three words

I have just 3 words for you right now.

Yoga

Weekend

Retreat

Stay tuned and I'll tell you more.

Made it through the challenge! Go me!

10 weeks - A commitment to be active everyday. A chance to improve my health and well being - done and dusted.

I joined the Go Red For Women site and heard about the Healthy Heart Challenge back here.

I enjoy exercise but need constant encouragement.
I know .. is it not encouragement enough to know I am benefiting in many ways when I exercise?
Once I'm doing it - I'm fine, but sometimes I need a push to get out there.

So I recorded my stats of blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. I had just visited the doctor so these things were on hand.

I opted for the Keep Active Everyday choice. There were so many other choices which tempted me, but my real challenge is to get moving. I knew by choosing this option, it would then lead into some of the other choices.

I received an email every week to record my progress in achieving my goal. So this entailed ticking when I exercised and what I did. I mostly walked and cycled, but did a couple of yoga sessions too.  When I working I tried to make use of my lunch break.

As usual, I started strong, then slowed a little, but put some effort in to finish the 10 weeks.
I have been losing weight of late due to anxiety and increased metabolism, but also because I am consciously eating better, nutritious meals and being aware of what I am eating and when.
The 10 weeks did not so much show a great difference in weight loss but in how I felt on the days I exercised. Every article written about anxiety stresses that exercise plays a huge role in treating the disorder. I haven't checked for a change in my cholesterol or blood pressure yet, but am sure that I have made a difference.

I just need to keep it up now.  I'm quite sure I will. I have felt the benefits.

So what now?
Readathon-done
Healthy Heart Challenge-done
40 Hour Famine ? We'll see.