Vedic Approach to Stress Management
Last Updated: June 06, 2008

The annual symposium of Sanatan Hindu Center was held on May 24th at Anjali Center.

The program started with the showcase of talent by presenting the winners of the national competition at Cleveland Tyagaraja Music festival. Shipla Sadagopan, Kruthi Bhat, Keerthana Bhat, Vikram Murali, presented Classical carnatic music and Sinthuja Devarajan and Swati Ariyapadi presented classical Bharatanatyam.

This was followed by Speakers of the Symposium Swami Shuddhananda, Baba Lokenath Divine life Mission Kolkatta and Samani Akshay Pregya of JVB Preksha Meditation Center Houston.

Swami Sudhhananda Bramhachari of Baba Lokenath Divine Life Mission was the first guest speaker. In an eloquent and enlightening speech Swamiji explained the Simple Art of Managing Stress. He presented a 90 second “Pause” or “Attention” that can be practiced to manage stress and indeed it seemed a very simple technique. He explained that when you observe your breath, you are closest to your Spirit. Your consciousness is deepening. Your energy is opening, harmonizing, flowing naturally and freely. You become meditative and contemplative. He demonstrated by making the audience take a deep breath and exhale. Relax with the breath. Release all that you are holding on to into the space of letting go of the breath. Just smile. Offer everything into the rising and falling flow of the breath. To feel the spiritual glory of our inner being we need to pause in the midst of our busy schedules. Take a day, half-day, a few hours, or a few moments to be closest to your inner self, to be in silence. Turn off all communication devices. Be in the house, in the room, in the space of your contemplative willingness. Just be. Let go and move within.

He pointed out that all of us had a beautiful smile as a child and said that it is still with us. We forget to smile when we grow up but it is always within us to bring that smile back. He said that when you try to control a child the tendency of the child is to be rebellious and it is the same with anyone else. Similarly one’s mind always rebels when you want to control it. He said the best solution is to befriend your mind. Stress management is the doorway to Self Management, which is the key to unlocking the infinite treasure of the Self.

The second guest speaker Samani Akshay Pragya of Preksha Meditation Center of Houston explained the techniques of managing stress. “If I am asked what is common in all human beings? In the context of today’s man’s picture, I will say –STRESS” Samani began her speech with a power point presentation. She explained that stress is nothing but a mental pressure. When a thought or stream of thoughts come times and again and apply some pressure then the reaction against the thoughts is stress. This reaction can be positive and negative as well. If the reaction is positive then it pushes up forward and increases our alertness. This is positive stress and it is necessary for higher achievement. The causes of stress can be put under two heads: Internal & External.

Internal: Ego, anger, jealousy, ambitions etc are the internal and primary causes. When the ego is hurt, you get stress. When someone insults, ignores, does not respect or does not praise, you get stress. When you do not get what you want, you get stress External: Man is a social animal. He loves family and friends. Sometimes social relations and situations also beget stress. Different interest of spouse, no open dialogues among family members, death of beloved one, work pressure, Poor financial situation, lay off, work-life imbalance, Boss-employee relations are some of the external stressors.

Effect of stress: Stress affects our physical, mental and emotional health very badly. The whole bio-chemistry is disturbed. When one gets stress then pituitary gland secrets ACTH hormone; which in turn activates adrenal gland to discharge cortisol. When cortisol gets into blood breathing becomes fast, BP goes high, digestive system slows down, and immune system becomes weak. Along with it headache, weakness, pain, negative & violent thinking are the byproducts of the stress. Stress also shrinks our memory power, creativity, decision power and other important functions of the brain. Emotionally, the person becomes fragile.

Manage the stress: To manage the stress is not a big deal. You are supposed to take care of small things, and small things can make a big difference. Try to live in present- no unnecessary thinking, minimize the desires-you are running after to satisfy them. Remember there is no end of desires, share your feelings with near and dear one, delegate the task, give priority to important task, go with the plan, have enough sleep and nutritious food, no caffeine or alcoholic drinks, think positive.

Practice: Pranayam – Whenever you are attacked by unwanted thought a) breathe in slowly and breathe out slowly concentrating at your navel. b) hold your breath for few seconds c) Khechari Mudra- fold your tongue upward and touch the upper palate.

Alternate breathing – put your right thumb on right nostril (RN), index finger on forehead and middle finger on the left nostril (LN). Now, breathe in through LN, breathe out through RN, breathe in through RN and breathe out through LN. This is one cycle. Practice everyday 5-10 min.

Mantra chanting- om kshaum kshaum 2-5 minutes. Everyday at least 15 min walking, yoga & relaxation will take your stress away from you. Do not forget that laughing is an instant stress reducer. So start laughing right now, practice pranayam, yoga and relaxation and shift your thinking pattern from negative to positive, you will find yourself the happiest and peaceful person of this world.

The program ended with a melodious and soul stirring bhajan by Bankimji Gossai of U.K. Padmakant Khambati welcomed the gathering. The program emcee Geeta Rahula introduced the music and dance participants. Thara Narasimhan introduced Swami Shuddhananda and Tejas Dave introduced Samnaji. Sreedhar Rahula proposed a vote of thanks and the evening concluded with a Sattvic sumptuous dinner.