Exercise is a very important aspect of our overall health. When we experience extreme fatigue, however, undertaking the rigorous exercise you think you need may not always be possible. In these situations, adrenal yoga should be considered a good alternative to traditional aerobic exercise.
Whenever you are experiencing an extreme level of fatigue, it is important to be very careful in regard to the types of exercises you undertake. In a weak state, the body is very susceptible to many problems. One can easily experience overexertion, low blood sugar levels, dizziness, and even blurry vision. Suppose you experience any of those symptoms while exercising. In that case, the best thing you can do is stop immediately and seek a professional opinion to learn why those things are happening. It is very common for people to overexert themselves when they are highly stressed and experiencing Adrenal Fatigue (AF).
Yoga, as a form of exercise, is great for providing recovery and can help people cope with stressful circumstances without experiencing increasingly negative reactions. There are many forms of yoga. Some can worsen adrenal fatigue (such as hot yoga), while others are much more gentle (such as adrenal yoga). There are many facets of yoga. For this article, we will be focusing on the physical aspects, but it should not be discounted that yoga's mental training can often be very helpful. Adrenal yoga is a great way to help you recover from Adrenal Fatigue because of its gentle approach.
A brief overview of the adrenal glands is important to understand how adrenal yoga can help you. The adrenal gland has two separate parts. The first is the adrenal medulla, which secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline. There are several different purposes for these hormones to be released, but a few main tasks are maintaining heart rate, increasing oxygen flow to the muscles, and raising blood pressure.
The second part of the adrenal gland that is important to understand is called the adrenal cortex. The purpose of the adrenal cortex is to produce and release cortisol, among other hormones, which have several different effects on the body. Cortisol is a very powerful hormone; it is released when the body is under threat (or perceived threat) and readies the “fight or flight” response in the body. It also suppresses inflammation and the immune system, so there are risks of high cortisol levels over time. When the body cannot keep up with the demand for certain hormones, such as cortisol, it often enters a state of Adrenal Fatigue from which there needs to be recovery.
Adrenal yoga is not as simple as picking up any old yoga book and choosing a few exercises at random. There are specific movements that can benefit an already exhausted body and help you on the road to recovery from AF or Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS).
A simple adrenal yoga exercise we will discuss today is known as the “corpse pose.” This is one of the simplest poses and has many benefits in its practice. First, you must lie flat on your back and stretch out your legs to be in a mid-line position with your torso. Once you’ve done this, raise your head so that your neck is fully extended, and make sure that it is centered by visualizing your ears equidistant from your shoulders. Once all of these things are in line, make sure that your arms are turned out with your palms facing up and relax.
You can become disarmed within seconds and spend at least five minutes or more focusing on relaxing everything in your body. This centering will help you reduce stress and take time for yourself during stressful times. Adrenal yoga is meant to not only treat symptoms but also become a practice that helps you keep symptoms at bay.
Not all people can exercise because of various health problems that may or may not be related to Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. This is something that everyone should consider before diving into a new protocol of exercise. If you are in extreme exhaustion, it could be best to get some rest and take some time for yourself. It is up to you to make sure you are choosing safe methods of therapy for your own body. If you think there are excessive risks involved with anything you are considering for exercise, such as adrenal yoga, then it is recommended that you seek out professional advice.
Our bodies are equipped with a built-in system to manage stress. The NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response is the system our bodies use to communicate the messages associated with managing stress through chemical signals known as neurotransmitters and hormones. Proper functionality throughout this system is imperative to ensure sustainable reactions to stressors. Adrenal yoga can help you restore proper functionality.
The main component of the NEM Stress Response is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. An appropriately functioning HPA axis will ensure that all neurotransmissions, hormone production, oxygen uptake, and even blood flow are managed with proper speed and efficiency. When cortisol is released by the adrenals, blood pressure rises, blood cholesterol levels rise, the digestive system slows or even halts, and new nutrients cannot be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. As stated earlier, this is the normal response to stress in the body. The problems arise when stress is extremely frequent - which encourages this unhealthy physical cycle to persist continually without reversion to a natural resting state.
Adrenal yoga can help to play a large part in overcoming the long term negative effects of heightened levels of stress. Even though the NEM Stress Response is a natural set of reactions that cannot necessarily be controlled by an individual, some of the damaging effects can be mitigated by exercise. Just getting out there and moving can be the small gesture that your body needs to help increase self-esteem and lower stress.
With so many forms of exercise, there can be an endless supply of opinions and methods that people claim will help you overcome your ailments. Adrenal yoga is special because it can be tailored to specific needs. A large complaint, or excuse, of many people for why they don’t exercise is that they feel that just getting started is too large of a task.
Now, to reference what we touched on in the previous section, if one of the exercises is meant for relaxation and to help you recover to a point where you are strong enough for traditional exercise, it is the perfect entrance point. When a person is in advanced adrenal fatigue or exhaustion, the last thing they will want to do is implement a regimen that will be a struggle to stay accountable to or be difficult to follow.
For some people, exercise and adrenal yoga will not be enough to combat stress problems. Sometimes, people can have misdirected concepts of where their symptoms are coming from, which can lead to dangerous assumptions. Serious medical conditions can be present without the person suffering even being aware. If you think something is wrong and are concerned for your health, it is best to consult a professional - to take as much risk out of the situation as possible. To mistreat an illness (that you may not even know you have) is something that should be avoided at all costs.
The adrenal glands are particularly active during times of stress - which often results in them being overworked. If there is not sufficient nutrient uptake or available compounds for the adrenals to draw from to produce necessary hormones and steroids, they can become fatigued and even reach the point of exhaustion.
Available nutrients are not the only thing that can prevent the adrenals from working correctly. There comes a point where an individual cannot produce enough necessary hormones because the mere presence of the hormones that have been released has created a crisis within the body. This is the target objective of adrenal yoga: to help the body return to a balanced enough state where it can begin to produce the necessary hormones again and recover.
Sometimes, the main point of an exercise is not that it is a competition; it is only beneficial for whoever participates. Adrenal yoga is a safe way for you to practice your breathing and exercise just the right areas of the body to help with Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome recovery. One of the great things about practicing yoga is that it has no impact on your joints, is very gentle on your cardiovascular system, and can be as basic or advanced as the user wants it to be.
One of the things that we have not yet touched on that deserves merit is the practice of breathing exercises and meditation, which often go hand in hand with yoga. Breathing exercises can accompany adrenal yoga for an even more relaxing experience. Controlling your breathing can help to calm your mind and reduce stress.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when considering breathing exercises is waiting until they are completely overcome by stress before they attempt to control their breath. This is a poor approach because when you are already in a state of stress, a large amount of stress hormones have already been released into your bloodstream and throughout your body. When you use a couple of simple exercises - as soon as you realize the onset of stress - you can mitigate some of the damage before it’s done.
There is a technique that can be incorporated and used alongside adrenal yoga called adrenal breathing. It is easy to do and can be quite helpful. First, put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Then, breathe through your nose and ensure your stomach pushes your hand away from your body. If in advanced stages of adrenal fatigue, starting slowly and not breathing too deeply is best. Deep breathing may be stimulatory on the body if not properly performed. Completing these breathing exercises throughout the day can provide immediate positive effects of lower blood pressure and heart rate. This can allow you to relax much more timelily than if you didn’t step away from the stressful situation and let yourself calm down.
There isn’t a single thing that will work for everyone when it comes to stress, and you should ensure you’re doing what will work best. Adrenal yoga and breathing exercises are largely safe and natural medicines that can be used by almost anyone. However, because improper use can worsen adrenal fatigue, it is recommended that it be done under professional guidance - especially if you are in the advanced stages. Improper use can trigger adrenal crashes and retard adrenal fatigue recovery.
The complete Adrenal Yoga series consists of 21 progressive sessions that relax your body, strengthen your core, rebalance your nervous system, and allow you to control the body’s response to stress. Beginning sessions are 20 minutes long and up to 60 minutes as your body strengthens. It’s a wonderful way to help your body recover from adrenal fatigue systematically.
Practicing adrenal yoga can be a transformative approach for those recovering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS). This gentle, restorative form of yoga focuses on reducing stress, balancing hormones, and rejuvenating the adrenal glands. By integrating mindful breathing, gentle stretches, and relaxation techniques, adrenal yoga helps alleviate the symptoms of AFS, promoting overall health and well-being. Committing to regular practice can significantly enhance your recovery journey, restoring your energy and vitality.
Take charge of your recovery from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome today by incorporating adrenal yoga into your daily routine. Start with simple poses and breathing exercises, and gradually build your practice. Call us at +1 (626) 571-1234 to know more.