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Often the last thing we want to do is get physical and move the body when we're sad, depressed, grieving. Although it feels counter-intuitive, the best thing we can do when feeling down is move. My recommendation is always yoga. Here's why :
1. You will have more mental clarity.
According to Harvard Health researchers have found that regular aerobic exercise appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Remaining physically active means your mind will remain alert, sharp and clear.
2. You will be reminded that you are strong.
After the end of a relationship, this mid 30s aged woman described how yoga empowered her: “The running helped me remember ‘I am big. I am strong.' …In the beginning, I thought ‘I may not be able to control all these other things in my life, but I can control this.’ Then it became ‘Well, if I can control that, what else can I take back?’”
3. You will work out sadness.
Yoga and exercise in general always puts people into a better mood. Endorphins, which are structurally similar to the drug morphine, are considered natural painkillers because they activate opioid receptors in the brain that help minimize discomfort, explains J. Kip Matthews, PhD., a sport and exercise psychologist. They can also help bring about feelings of euphoria and general well-being, he adds.
4. You will control your weight.
Some struggling with sadness and depression are unable to eat and thus, lose weight. Many others, however, turn to food for comfort and thus, gain weight. Regular exercise will help control this issue increasing appetite so you can eat and burning calories if you over eat.
5. You will combat health issues.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, a number of types of cancer, arthritis and falls.”
1. You will have more mental clarity.
According to Harvard Health researchers have found that regular aerobic exercise appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Remaining physically active means your mind will remain alert, sharp and clear.
2. You will be reminded that you are strong.
After the end of a relationship, this mid 30s aged woman described how yoga empowered her: “The running helped me remember ‘I am big. I am strong.' …In the beginning, I thought ‘I may not be able to control all these other things in my life, but I can control this.’ Then it became ‘Well, if I can control that, what else can I take back?’”
3. You will work out sadness.
Yoga and exercise in general always puts people into a better mood. Endorphins, which are structurally similar to the drug morphine, are considered natural painkillers because they activate opioid receptors in the brain that help minimize discomfort, explains J. Kip Matthews, PhD., a sport and exercise psychologist. They can also help bring about feelings of euphoria and general well-being, he adds.
4. You will control your weight.
Some struggling with sadness and depression are unable to eat and thus, lose weight. Many others, however, turn to food for comfort and thus, gain weight. Regular exercise will help control this issue increasing appetite so you can eat and burning calories if you over eat.
5. You will combat health issues.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, a number of types of cancer, arthritis and falls.”
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If our hearts are full of love and kindness for ourselves, there is little room for anger. Such mental states might arise, but love is the cleansing water that puts out the flames of anger. - Valerie Mason John
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When we're caring for someone who's sick, we lend them our body. We use the strength of our backs and arms to move them from the bed to the commode. In the same way, we can also lend them the strength of our mind. We can help to create a calm and accepting environment. We can be a reminder of stability and concentration. We can expand our heart in such a way that it can inspire the individual who's dying to expand theirs. One calm person in the room can ease the entire experience for everybody. - Frank Ostaseski, co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project
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People who stay young and energetic for life endure the same setbacks and frustrations as everyone else. Their secret is that they bounce back from setbacks. To do this, requires a sense of self that is centered and unshakable. - Deepak Chopra
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One of the most fascinating and spiritualy productive individuals of the 20th century was Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (he was born in Oakland, CA and originally named Robert Hansen). He established the magazine Hinduism Today as well as several Hindu monasteries worldwide. Here's one of his explanations of karma seen through the lens of acts of revenge and retaliation:
"We see society tearing itself apart through retaliation. Countries divide and retaliate. Political parties retaliate. Vindictive law cases are professionally handled retaliation. To retaliate means to pay back injury with injury, to return like for like, evil for evil, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It seems to be a part of humankind, though it is a negative part of humankind. It does not have to prevail. It is not spiritual. We would say it is demonic. We would say it is asuric. We would say it is unnecessary behavior, unacceptable behavior, a wrong use of willpower. People who have a lot of will can, if they wish, retaliate very, very well. They can ruin another person. But remember, the force will come back on them three times stronger than they gave it out, because their strong willpower will bring it back with vigor. This is the law (of karma)."
"We see society tearing itself apart through retaliation. Countries divide and retaliate. Political parties retaliate. Vindictive law cases are professionally handled retaliation. To retaliate means to pay back injury with injury, to return like for like, evil for evil, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It seems to be a part of humankind, though it is a negative part of humankind. It does not have to prevail. It is not spiritual. We would say it is demonic. We would say it is asuric. We would say it is unnecessary behavior, unacceptable behavior, a wrong use of willpower. People who have a lot of will can, if they wish, retaliate very, very well. They can ruin another person. But remember, the force will come back on them three times stronger than they gave it out, because their strong willpower will bring it back with vigor. This is the law (of karma)."
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A person who practices meditation has time. When you practice meditation, you have more time than anyone else in the world. - Kodo Sawaki
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While the inferior person bitterly complains and curses his luck when faced with an undesirable situation or confronted with a loss, the superior person remembers the good things still left to him and smiles. - Wu Wei
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The Buddha was very direct and clear that he was not a God but that he was just a human being. Therefore the path to enlightenment and liberation which he discovered is accessible to any other human. Based on his own experience, he taught and modeled the reality that we can improve ourselves living with purpose and happiness. The Buddha summarized his teachings in the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’ to guide us.
1. Right view. Accept life the way it is rather than clinging to the way we wish it to be.
2. Right thought. Develop yourself to be a person who is positive and optimistic not negative and cynical.
3. Right speech. No gossip, no lying, no misrepresenting oneself and others. Very simple.
4. Right action. Responding rather than reacting to life.
5. Right livelihood. Do work that is right for you, for others, for the planet. The Buddha discouraged working in these five “businesses” - business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants and business in poisons.
6. Right effort. Rise daily with joy and enthusiasm. Don’t give into inertia and laziness.
7. Right mindfulness. Be present. The past is gone and the future is uncertain. Focus on now.
8. Right concentration. Mediate regularly. This practice provides a foundation of stability, peace, confidence and awareness.
1. Right view. Accept life the way it is rather than clinging to the way we wish it to be.
2. Right thought. Develop yourself to be a person who is positive and optimistic not negative and cynical.
3. Right speech. No gossip, no lying, no misrepresenting oneself and others. Very simple.
4. Right action. Responding rather than reacting to life.
5. Right livelihood. Do work that is right for you, for others, for the planet. The Buddha discouraged working in these five “businesses” - business in weapons, business in human beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants and business in poisons.
6. Right effort. Rise daily with joy and enthusiasm. Don’t give into inertia and laziness.
7. Right mindfulness. Be present. The past is gone and the future is uncertain. Focus on now.
8. Right concentration. Mediate regularly. This practice provides a foundation of stability, peace, confidence and awareness.
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Human beings are brilliant animals, and we can find all kinds of creative ways to manifest either wonderful or terrible things. Love combined with insightful wisdom is very powerful, but just having intelligence without the motivation of love and compassion creates things like the atom bomb. - - Lama Tsomo
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(public domain picture from www.pixabay.com)
Because the bamboo plant can survive harsh winters,blistering summers and fierce storms it is an important symbol of enlightenment in Buddhism. Like the bamboo, enlightenment requires persistence, strength, flexibility and adaptability. The presence of bamboo also creates a sense of quiet and peace while providing shelter for human and other beings. It is especially venerated in China, Korea and Japan where the relationship between Buddhism and Bamboo is tightly linked.
For example, many Buddhist temples grow and nurture the plant on their properties. In addition, some temples include the word ‘bamboo’ in their names. Various bamboo species are named after the Buddha such as “Buddha Belly Bamboo”, “Mercy Buddha Bamboo”, and “Arhat Bamboo.” Buddhism has also inspired various wisdom statements around the bamboo plant –
Bend but don’t break. Be flexible yet firmly rooted.
You can lean on a bamboo stick but not on a rope.
Like bamboo, be resilient and bounce back.
The higher the bamboo, the more it bends.
Commit to continuous growth.
Because the bamboo plant can survive harsh winters,blistering summers and fierce storms it is an important symbol of enlightenment in Buddhism. Like the bamboo, enlightenment requires persistence, strength, flexibility and adaptability. The presence of bamboo also creates a sense of quiet and peace while providing shelter for human and other beings. It is especially venerated in China, Korea and Japan where the relationship between Buddhism and Bamboo is tightly linked.
For example, many Buddhist temples grow and nurture the plant on their properties. In addition, some temples include the word ‘bamboo’ in their names. Various bamboo species are named after the Buddha such as “Buddha Belly Bamboo”, “Mercy Buddha Bamboo”, and “Arhat Bamboo.” Buddhism has also inspired various wisdom statements around the bamboo plant –
Bend but don’t break. Be flexible yet firmly rooted.
You can lean on a bamboo stick but not on a rope.
Like bamboo, be resilient and bounce back.
The higher the bamboo, the more it bends.
Commit to continuous growth.