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Yoga as Medicine: The Physical and Psychological Health Benefits Explore how yoga serves as a holistic approach to improving physical and mental health, reducing stress, and fostering overall well-being. Yoga: A Path to Holistic Health Yoga transcends traditional exercise by harmonizing body and mind. This ancient practice, rooted in centuries of tradition, has evolved into a comprehensive wellness tool. With consistent practice, yoga offers profound benefits across various aspects of physical health and mental well-being. Let’s delve into how yoga can become your ultimate ally in achieving holistic health. Unlocking Physical Health Benefits Yoga’s physical benefits are both broad and significant, encompassing strength, flexibility, and balance. Here’s how yoga reshapes our physical health: Enhanced Strength and Flexibility: Unlike high-intensity workouts, yoga gently builds muscle strength while enhancing flexibility. Poses like Plank, Warrior, and Tree pose strengthen core, legs, and arms, reducing the risk of injury and improving overall body function. Improved Respiratory Efficiency: Pranayama, or breath control practices, are central to yoga. These exercises enhance lung capacity and respiratory efficiency, crucial for both physical endurance and stress management. Cardiovascular Health: Yoga’s calming effect on the mind also extends to the heart. Practices that include gentle flow sequences improve cardiovascular health by reducing resting heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and promoting arterial health. Yoga for Everyone: Accessibility and Adaptability One of yoga’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Yoga can be adapted to fit the needs of virtually anyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or health status. Here’s how yoga remains inclusive: Variety of Styles: From the gentle flows of Hatha yoga to the more physically demanding Ashtanga, there’s a style of yoga for every preference and need. This variety ensures that everyone can find a practice that resonates with them. Adaptability to Individual Needs: Yoga poses and sequences can be modified to accommodate individual physical limitations, making it an inclusive practice for people with disabilities, chronic pain, or those recovering from injuries. Catalyst for Mental Clarity and Stress Reduction Yoga’s impact on mental health is as significant as its physical benefits. Here are key ways yoga promotes mental wellness: Mindfulness and Concentration: Through focused breathing and mindful practice, yoga enhances concentration and mental clarity. This mindfulness can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, leading to a more balanced emotional state. Stress Relief through Relaxation: Yoga encourages relaxation, shifting the balance from the sympathetic nervous system (or the fight-or-flight response) to the parasympathetic nervous system. This shift reduces stress and promotes a state of calm. Enhanced Sleep Quality: Regular yoga practice has been linked to better sleep quality. Techniques that relax the body and mind, such as gentle stretches and meditation, can help alleviate insomnia and improve overall sleep patterns. Embrace Yoga for Holistic Health Incorporating yoga into your daily routine is a powerful step toward holistic health. It’s a practice that nurtures not just the physical body but also the mind and spirit. Whether you’re seeking to alleviate physical pain, manage stress, or find mental clarity, yoga offers a path to achieving those goals. By embracing yoga, you embark on a journey of self-discovery, wellness, and balance. Start your yoga journey today and experience the transformative power of this ancient practice. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Yoga: A Pillar for Mental Health Yoga transcends physical exercise, serving as a cornerstone for mental health. It harmonizes the mind, body, and spirit, offering a sanctuary for those navigating the complexities of modern life. This article delves into yoga’s profound impact on mental well-being, spotlighting poses and practices that fortify the mind-body connection. The Journey to Self-Love with Yoga Yoga is a voyage of self-discovery and acceptance. It teaches us to approach ourselves with kindness, compassion, and patience. Practices such as Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta Bhavana) integrated into yoga sessions nurture self-love, essential for overcoming internal struggles with anxiety and depression. Recognizing our worth and embracing our imperfections paves the way for healing and self-acceptance. Transformative Poses for Emotional Equilibrium Child’s Pose (Balasana): A sanctuary of serenity, the Child’s Pose envelops practitioners in comfort, easing stress and anxiety. By fostering a sense of security and grounding, it encourages introspection and emotional release. Warrior Series (Virabhadrasana I, II, III): Beyond their physical prowess, the Warrior poses instill confidence, resilience, and empowerment. They symbolize strength in the face of adversity, promoting courage and determination. Tree Pose (Vrikshasana): This balancing act fosters concentration and clarity, reducing feelings of anxiety by anchoring the mind in the present moment. It cultivates stability in both the physical and emotional realms. Mindful Breathing: A Bridge to Inner Peace Pranayama, or yogic breathing techniques, are powerful tools for mental health. Techniques like Ujjayi (Victorious Breath) and Anulom Vilom (Alternate Nostril Breathing) regulate the nervous system, reduce stress levels, and improve emotional resilience. By focusing on the breath, we connect to the present moment, cultivating mindfulness and diminishing worry and rumination. Sequences That Nourish the Soul Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar): A dynamic flow that revitalizes the body and awakens the mind. This sequence enhances vitality and promotes an uplifted state of being, combating depressive tendencies with each movement. Moon Salutation (Chandra Namaskar): A gentle counterpart to the Sun Salutation, this sequence honors the reflective and introspective aspects of our nature. It soothes the nervous system, encouraging emotional balance and calmness. Integrating Yoga into Daily Life for Mental Wellness Making yoga a consistent part of your life can transform your mental landscape. Start with small, manageable sessions, gradually incorporating more as you feel comfortable. Remember, the goal is not perfection but progress. Yoga is a personal journey that respects your unique needs and boundaries. Yoga: A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Yoga offers a holistic approach to mental well-being, addressing the intricate interplay between mind, body, and spirit. Its practices, from asanas to meditation and pranayama, offer a multifaceted solution to the challenges of mental health. By fostering self-awareness, resilience, and emotional equilibrium, yoga empowers individuals to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and strength. Conclusion Yoga is more than just a series of poses; it’s a lifeline to those seeking solace in a turbulent world. It strengthens the mind-body connection, offering a pathway to mental wellness that is both ancient and profoundly relevant today. As we embrace yoga, we unlock a powerful tool for mental health, one breath, one pose, one moment at a time. Embrace yoga’s journey and discover the tranquility, strength, and balance that lie within. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Introduction: The Journey to Mindfulness Through Yoga In today’s fast-paced world, mindfulness is a sanctuary, offering us a way to slow down and appreciate the present moment. Yoga, with its ancient roots and holistic approach to well-being, presents an array of techniques that foster mindfulness, guiding us to a state of serene awareness. This journey is not just about physical fitness; it’s a pathway to discovering the profound connections between our body, mind, and the world around us. The Essence of Mindful Breathing Breathing, the most fundamental aspect of yoga, is also the cornerstone of mindfulness. By focusing on our breath, we anchor ourselves in the present moment. This simple yet powerful practice can be done anywhere, anytime. Start your day with a few minutes of deep breathing. Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and simply observe the rhythm of your breath. This practice clears the mind, reduces stress, and prepares you for the day ahead with renewed focus and calmness. Engaging the Body: Mindful Yoga Poses Yoga offers a variety of poses (asanas) that enhance mindfulness. Each pose is an opportunity to practice being fully engaged in the moment. Balancing poses, such as Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) or Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III), are especially effective. They require concentration, coordination, and a deep connection with the present. As you hold a pose, notice the sensations in your body, the stability of your breath, and the focus of your mind. This awareness builds a bridge between the physical and the mental, enhancing mindfulness. Mindful Living: Integrating Yoga into Daily Life The true power of yoga lies in its application beyond the practice sessions. Mindfulness cultivated through yoga can transform our daily lives. It teaches us to approach each task, conversation, and moment with full awareness. Whether you’re eating, walking, or simply performing your day-to-day tasks, do so mindfully. This approach to living turns ordinary activities into profound moments of connection with the present. Meditation: The Heart of Mindfulness Meditation is where the essence of mindfulness unfolds. It allows us to observe our thoughts and emotions without attachment or judgment. Post-yoga practice is an ideal time for meditation. Sit quietly, maintaining the natural flow of your breath, and let your mind settle. Thoughts will come and go; observe them without engagement. This practice deepens our connection to the present moment and cultivates a sense of inner peace that extends beyond the yoga mat. Conclusion: Embracing the Present with Yoga Yoga techniques for mindfulness are more than just exercises; they are invitations to live more fully in the present moment. They offer a way to navigate the complexities of life with grace, presence, and awareness. As we continue to explore and integrate these practices into our lives, we discover the true essence of mindfulness: a deep, serene engagement with the here and now. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

The Harmony of Mindfulness and Movement In the practice of yoga, the body and mind are not separate entities but interconnected facets of our being, each influencing the other in profound ways. Mindfulness with yoga is the art of bringing this connection to the forefront, transforming simple movements into profound moments of presence and awareness. This article explores how mindfulness and movement intertwine in yoga, offering a path to holistic well-being. Understanding Mindfulness in Yoga Mindfulness, a state of active, open attention to the present, is a cornerstone of yoga. It involves observing your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. In yoga, mindfulness is cultivated through focused attention on breath and movement, anchoring the practitioner in the present moment and fostering a deep sense of awareness. The Role of Breath in Mindful Yoga Breath, or Pranayama, is more than just a physical necessity in yoga; it is a bridge to mindfulness. Each inhalation and exhalation guides movement and fosters a deeper connection to the present. Mindful breathing helps regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and enhance concentration, making each yoga pose an act of mindfulness. The Benefits of Mindfulness with Yoga The integration of mindfulness and movement in yoga offers numerous benefits. Physically, it enhances flexibility, strength, and balance. Mentally, it promotes clarity, focus, and peace. Emotionally, it fosters resilience and a deep sense of well-being. This holistic approach addresses the individual as a whole, promoting health and harmony in every aspect of life. Integrating Movement with Mindful Awareness Yoga poses, or asanas, are designed not just for physical benefit but as vehicles for mindfulness. By focusing on the alignment, sensations, and breath in each pose, practitioners can achieve a state of moving meditation. This mindful attention to movement helps dissolve the usual chatter of the mind, leading to clarity and tranquility. Practices to Enhance Mindfulness in Yoga Start with Intention: Begin your practice with a clear intention to remain present. This intention sets the tone for mindfulness throughout your session. Focus on the Breath: Let your breath guide your movement. Pay attention to the rhythm of your breath and its connection to each pose. Embrace Each Moment: Treat every pose as an opportunity to be fully present. Notice the sensations in your body, the thoughts in your mind, and the emotions that arise. Cultivate Awareness: Practice observing your thoughts and feelings without attachment. This detachment fosters deeper mindfulness and understanding. Incorporate Meditation: End your practice with a few minutes of seated meditation. Reflect on your practice and the moments of mindfulness you experienced. Mindfulness Beyond the Mat The practice of mindfulness with yoga extends beyond the physical confines of the mat. It influences how we move through the world, interact with others, and respond to challenges. By cultivating mindfulness in yoga, we learn to approach life with a sense of calm, clarity, and presence, transforming our everyday experiences into opportunities for growth and peace. Conclusion: A Journey to Unity Mindfulness with yoga is more than a practice; it’s a journey towards unity of body and mind. Through mindful movement and breath, we discover a profound connection to the present moment and ourselves. This journey offers not just physical benefits but a path to mental clarity, emotional resilience, and holistic well-being. As we continue to explore and deepen our practice, we unlock the transformative power of yoga, bringing harmony to every aspect of our lives. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Enhance Thyroid Health with Yoga: A Holistic Approach In today’s fast-paced world, where stress levels are soaring, maintaining optimal thyroid health is paramount. The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, and overall well-being. Fortunately, yoga offers a natural and effective way to support thyroid function and promote balance within the body. The Rising Interest in Yoga for Thyroid Health The Rising Interest in Yoga for Thyroid Health As the prevalence of thyroid disorders continues to rise globally, with the market projected to reach $29 billion by 2025, individuals are increasingly turning to alternative approaches for managing their health. Within the realm of holistic wellness, yoga has emerged as a popular choice, with searches for “yoga for thyroid health” consistently growing by 18% year-over-year. A Survey Reveals the Demand for Yogic Solutions A survey conducted by thyroid disorder support groups sheds light on the growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions for thyroid management. Remarkably, 55% of respondents actively seek alternative methods, with a quarter expressing a specific interest in yoga-based solutions. This underscores the importance of exploring holistic approaches to thyroid health. Harnessing the Power of Yoga Poses Yoga offers a plethora of poses that not only stimulate but also balance the thyroid gland, promoting overall wellness. Incorporating these poses into your daily routine can have a profound impact on your thyroid health. Here are some key asanas to consider: Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand): This inversion pose is known for its ability to improve blood circulation to the thyroid gland, thereby enhancing its function. Ardha Halasana (Half Plough Pose): Stimulates the thyroid gland while also stretching the neck and shoulders, promoting flexibility and vitality. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): Opens up the chest and throat, stimulating the thyroid gland and improving circulation in the neck region. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose): This seated twist massages the abdominal organs, including the thyroid gland, promoting detoxification and hormonal balance. Breathing Practices for Thyroid Health In addition to yoga poses, incorporating specific breathing techniques can further support thyroid function. Ujjayi pranayama, also known as the victorious breath, involves deep, rhythmic breathing through the nose, which helps to calm the mind, reduce stress, and promote hormonal balance. Cultural Attitudes and Yoga for Thyroid Health It’s essential to acknowledge the cultural significance of yoga in promoting thyroid health. Across various traditions, yoga has been revered for its ability to harmonize the mind, body, and spirit. By embracing yogic practices that resonate with cultural beliefs, individuals can cultivate a deeper connection to their health and well-being. Conclusion In conclusion, yoga offers a holistic approach to supporting thyroid health, providing a blend of physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. By incorporating yoga poses and breathing techniques into your routine, you can nurture your thyroid gland and cultivate a greater sense of balance and vitality in your life. Embrace the ancient wisdom of yoga and embark on a journey towards optimal thyroid health today. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Discover Advanced Breathing Practices in Yoga Yoga offers more than just physical postures; it’s a journey into the breath. Advanced breathing practices in Yoga, or Pranayama, are key to deepening your practice. These techniques enhance relaxation, focus, and energy balance. Benefits of Advanced Pranayama Pranayama techniques are powerful. They reduce stress, improve lung function, and enhance mental clarity. Breathing deeply into these practices transforms your Yoga journey. Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breath): Calms the mind, reducing anxiety Surya Bhedana (Right Nostril Breathing): Energizes the body, improving digestion. Kapalabhati Pranayama (Skull Shining Breath): Energizes the body, improving digestion. Ujjayi Pranayama (Ocean Breath) Soothes the nervous system, enhancing focus. Chandra Bhedana (Left Nostril Breathing): Promotes relaxation and cooling. Integrating Pranayama into Your Practice Incorporate these techniques gradually. Practice in a quiet, comfortable space. Focus on your breath and observe the effects on your body and mind. Conclusion Advanced breathing practices in Yoga offer profound benefits for your physical and mental well-being. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, integrating Pranayama into your routine can significantly enhance your Yoga journey. Explore these techniques to discover deeper relaxation and revitalization. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Yoga for Menopause: Find Balance and Strength Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman’s life, often accompanied by a range of symptoms that can impact physical health and emotional well-being. While this phase is natural and inevitable, the journey through menopause can be challenging for many women. Fortunately, yoga offers a holistic approach to managing menopausal symptoms, empowering women to navigate this transition with grace and strength. The Science Behind Yoga and Stress Reduction Understanding Menopause Menopause, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55, marks the cessation of menstrual cycles and a decline in reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal shift can lead to a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, and joint pain. While these symptoms are common, they can significantly disrupt daily life and diminish overall quality of life. Yoga is a time-tested practice that integrates physical postures, breathwork, and mindfulness to promote holistic well-being. When it comes to managing menopausal symptoms, yoga offers several benefits: The Benefits of Yoga Beginner Poses for Menopause Relief 1. Hormonal Balance: Certain yoga poses stimulate the endocrine system, helping to regulate hormone levels and promote balance within the body. 2. Stress Reduction: Menopause can be a stressful time, but yoga provides tools to calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mental well-being. 3. Improved Sleep: Sleep disturbances are common during menopause, but a consistent yoga practice can promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. 4. Enhanced Flexibility and Strength: Many menopausal women experience a decline in muscle mass and flexibility, but yoga helps maintain strength, flexibility, and mobility. Sukhasana (Easy Pose): Sit cross-legged with a straight spine, focusing on deep breathing to calm the mind and relieve stress. Balasana (Child’s Pose): Kneel on the floor with toes together, knees apart, and stretch arms forward, resting the forehead on the mat to release tension in the back and hips. Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose): Lie on your back with legs extended upward against a wall, promoting circulation, reducing swelling, and calming the nervous system. Ustrasana (Camel Pose): Kneel with knees hip-width apart, lean back, and place hands on heels, opening the chest, stretching the spine, and stimulating the thyroid gland. Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose): Lie on your back, bend knees, and lift hips toward the ceiling, engaging the glutes and thighs while opening the chest and shoulders. Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Pose): Lie on your back, bend knees, place hands beside ears, and lift hips toward the ceiling, opening the chest, shoulders, and hips. Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Handling Stress with Yoga: Effective Ways to Find Calm In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become an almost inevitable part of life. However, yoga offers a sanctuary—a path to tranquility that addresses both the mind and body. This article explores how yoga can be a powerful tool in managing stress, providing practical ways to integrate this ancient practice into your daily routine for a more balanced and peaceful life. The Science Behind Yoga and Stress Reduction Start with Simple Asanas Begin your yoga journey with poses that are known for their stress-reducing qualities. Child’s Pose (Balasana), Cat-Cow Stretch (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana), and Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani) are excellent for beginners and help release tension in the body. Breathing techniques are at the heart of yoga’s stress-relief benefits. Techniques like the 4-7-8 breath, Ujjayi (Ocean Breath), and Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) can calm the mind, improve focus, and reduce anxiety. Embrace Pranayama Make Time for Meditation Meditation can significantly impact stress levels by promoting mindfulness and present-moment awareness. Starting or ending your day with a few minutes of meditation can help ease the mind’s constant chatter and foster a state of inner peace. Consistency is key when it comes to yoga. Even a short daily practice can be more beneficial than a longer session done infrequently. Dedicate a specific time of day for yoga and stick to it to cultivate discipline and reap the full benefits. Create a Consistent Practice Join our yoga community Being part of a yoga class or group can provide additional motivation and support. Sharing your practice with others can enhance your commitment and introduce you to new techniques for managing stress. Click here

Embrace Slow Breathing with the American Association of Yoga in Medicine   In today’s dynamic world, finding peace and maintaining wellness can be challenging. The American Association of Yoga in Medicine (AAYM) is at the forefront of integrating traditional yoga practices with modern medical knowledge, emphasizing the profound impact of slow breathing techniques for stress reduction. Recent research published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (May 2023) confirms the effectiveness of these techniques, offering a science-backed approach to enhancing mental and physical health.    Study Highlights: A Pathway to Well-being Highlights  This innovative study, supported by reputable health institutions, engaged 100 participants in a 12-week examination of yoga-based slow breathing’s role in mitigating stress. Focusing on two techniques:    One with extended exhales Another with equal breath ratios         it revealed critical insights into the practice’s psychological benefits, irrespective of the specific breathing pattern employed.      Integrating Slow Breathing into Your Practice with AAYM Start with Mindfulness: Adopt slow breathing as part of your daily routine, using it as a cornerstone for stress management and a stepping stone to advanced yoga practices.            Explore with Guidance: AAYM’s online yoga courses offer comprehensive training in slow breathing techniques, tailored to foster personal growth and health improvement.            Beyond Techniques: While the study indicates the ratio of exhale to inhale might not be critical for stress reduction, AAYM encourages exploration of different patterns to find what best suits your individual needs.            The Role of Slow Breathing in Yoga and Medicine A Foundation for Stress Management: The AAYM advocates for slow breathing as a versatile tool in stress reduction, demonstrating its effectiveness in lowering psychological stress levels among participants.            Gateway to Advanced Yoga Practices: Slow breathing is not only therapeutic but also preparatory, setting the stage for deeper engagement with advanced yoga techniques. It enhances concentration, boosts lung function, and prepares the mind and body for more complex practices.              Whether you’re a beginner or looking to deepen your yoga journey, AAYM’s online courses are designed to guide you from the basics of slow breathing to the intricacies of advanced yoga practices. With a focus on the therapeutic aspects of yoga, our courses are your gateway to a more balanced, healthful, and enlightened lifestyle. Join Our Courses Today Elevate Your Yoga Practice with AAYM Online Courses Read the Paper Click here

Now more than ever it’s important to nail the weekend. Come Monday it’s so easy to feel guilty, asking yourself the same questions every week: where did the time go? Why didn’t I make the most of it? Why don’t I feel like I’ve had a weekend? Successful people have a knack for making the most of their downtime. They know how to separate work and play, they know how to refresh, they create healthy habits and they use the sacred spare time they have to propel themselves into the week. Here’s how you can do the same. Rise And Shine OK, getting up early is par for the course Monday to Friday so a lie-in is warranted, but on Saturday at least set your alarm like it’s a work day, even if it means turning it off and sleeping for an extra hour. The satisfaction from getting up early, packing more into the day and feeling productively worn out beats even the most comfortable weekend snoozes, trust us. You don’t need to look far for CEO inspiration in this department either. Robert Iger, former CEO of Disney, is just one of many who swear by an early start. That said, if sleeping in longer means getting in a fully nourishing eight hours, that’s advantageous on a weekend too. The likes of Jack Dorsey, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Tim Cook have all been reported to get around seven hours per night. The more quality sleep you can fit in, the better. Beware of indulgent lie-ins however. Too much sleep can have the opposite effect and make you feel lethargic during the day. Get The Blood Pumping This one should be obvious but if you put off exercising during the week, promising yourself you’ll get your blood pumping at the weekend, you need to follow through. Steps to a successful weekend routine don’t occur in isolation. Get up early and go for a run, cycle or follow a workout video on You tube. Picture how good you’ll feel afterwards and get it all done and dusted early. An active body means an active mind. Sir Paul Smith swims; Anna Wintour plays tennis; Richard Branson kite surfs. Exercise is and always will be the key to staying healthy and keeping your mind sharp. The weekend offers the opportunity to follow more creative forms of exercise that you wouldn’t ordinarily get the chance to do during the week. Clear Your Mind You likely know the benefits of meditation – it boosts mental health, reduces stress and anxiety, decreases blood pressure and improves sleep, to name but a few – especially as it has steadily infiltrated corporate culture. Jeff Weiner, Executive Chairman of LinkedIn, Marc Benioff, Co-founder and CEO of SalesForce, and Oprah Winfrey are just some of the high performers who swear by the practice. Not convinced? It doesn’t even have to be meditation. It could just be a commitment to 20 minutes of stillness – whether at home in the garden, out on the balcony, on a walk by a lake or just sitting on a chair in your bedroom. It’s difficult to slow down during the working week so make it your duty to dedicate some time to giving your mind a break every weekend. Digital Detox We would recommend not checking your email inbox over the weekend. If that sounds like a terrifying prospect then we would actively encourage it even more. Switch off across devices. Spend some time on airplane mode, mute notifications and be present in what you’re actually doing. If for some unavoidable reason you need to check, then dedicate a specific time and then don’t check again. The weekend is part of the ever-dwindling time you have where you’re allowed to not be connected. Make the most of it. Give Back Giving back is important and volunteering a few hours of your weekend to a just cause is a great way to meet new people, improve your mental health and, most importantly, make life better for someone else. Good Gym is an exercise-based volunteering organisation that will help you kill two of your weekend goals with one stone, but take the time out to see what opportunities are available in your local area, too. Cook Something Life is about balance and the weekend is about doing important stuff you struggle to do during the week. Cooking a solid meal is one such thing. Much has been made of Stanley Tucci’s home cooking and we’re not saying making a ragu on a Saturday will guarantee you a culinary-based travel show on TV, but cooking can nonetheless be a calming, mentally-focusing way to relax and be creative. The healthier the better but it’s also a good opportunity to indulge. Make a routine out of it. Going out and sourcing some better ingredients, walking to a market, getting fresh air, bringing them back and cooking for friends and family. It’s a good way to tick many of the boxes on this list in one. Connect With People Much has been made of Andre 3000’s recent foray into playing the flute. Something that was telling from his dungarees-clad interview was how much he seemed to be enjoying just hanging out with his loved ones. How it fuelled such a creative time in his life. A similar theme is best-selling authors and how, in their spare time, they seem to value not hanging out with other best-selling authors. Networking is one thing. Hanging out with friends and family is an entirely different experience. We’re social beings and even if you’re an introverted tech genius hidden away in a dark room creating the next billion-dollar product, at some point you’re going to need to hang out. Balance the forced social interaction of the week with the preferential socialising of the weekend. Take A Moment Of Reflection If you’ve ever delved into Dr Laurie Santos’ Happiness Lab podcast, or taken part in the associated free online course which was originally put on