Embracing Tranquility: The Power of Yoga in Stress Relief

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Vocabulary

• Yoga – A physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India, involving a series of postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques for promoting overall wellness and relaxation.
• Stress Relief – Measures taken to reduce stress and promote relaxation and mental calmness.
• Mental Health – A person's condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.
• Physical Health – The state of being free from illness or injury.
• Meditation – The practice of focusing the mind for a period of time, often for relaxation or spiritual purposes.
• Mindfulness – The practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, often used as a therapeutic technique.
• Asana – A term used in yoga to describe a specific posture or position.
• Pranayama – The practice of breath control in yoga.
• Wellness – The state of being in good health, both physically and mentally.
• Holistic Health – A concept that health and wellness include not just the body, but also the mind and spirit.
• Alternative Medicine – A variety of therapeutic or preventative health care practices that are not typically taught in medical schools.
• Ayurveda – An ancient Indian system of medicine that uses a range of treatments, including yoga, diet, and herbal remedies.
• Adaptogen – A natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes.
• Biofeedback – A technique you can use to learn to control some of your body's functions.
• Chakra – In yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda, a chakra is thought to be an energy center in the human body.
• Detoxification – The process of removing toxic substances or qualities.
• Essential Oils – Oils that carry the essence, or scent, of the plants from which they were extracted, often used in aromatherapy.
• Herbal Medicine – The use of plants for medicinal purposes.
• Homeopathy – A system of alternative medicine that treats a disease with minute doses of natural substances.
• Integrative Medicine – A holistic approach to health care that uses both conventional and alternative therapies.
• Naturopathy – A system of treatment that relies on natural remedies, such as sunlight and a good diet, and the body's ability to heal and maintain itself.
• Nutraceuticals – Products derived from food sources with extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods.
• Organic – Foods or other raw materials produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
• Probiotics – Live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system.
• Reiki – A therapy often described as palm healing or hands-on-body healing in which a practitioner places hands lightly on or over a patient's body to facilitate the patient's process of healing.
• Superfoods – Nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.
• Veganism – The practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet.
• Vegetarianism – The practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat.
• Vitamins – Organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet.
• Acupuncture – A form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body to relieve pain or treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions.
• Aromatherapy – The use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils for healing and cosmetic purposes.
• Antioxidants – Substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals.
• Omega-3 – A type of fat that is beneficial for heart health.
• Hydration – The process of making your body absorb water or other fluids.
• Cardiovascular Exercise – Physical activity that increases heart rate to improve the body's oxygen consumption.
• Strength Training – A type of physical exercise specializing in the use of resistance to induce muscular contraction.
• Flexibility Training – An exercise regimen that focuses on improving flexibility, a component of both general fitness and athletic performance.
• Balanced Diet – A diet consisting of a variety of different types of food and providing adequate amounts of the nutrients necessary for good health.
• Sleep Hygiene – Various practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness.
• Aerobic Exercise – Any type of cardiovascular conditioning or “cardio.
• Anaerobic Exercise – Physical exercise intense enough to cause lactate to form.
• Calorie – A unit of energy used in nutrition.
• Clean Eating – A diet concept where a person avoids processed and fast foods and eats whole, natural foods.
• Dehydration – An excessive loss of body water.
• Electrolytes – Minerals that carry an electric charge, found in your