December 4, 2022

Both stress and anxiety can take a toll on our health and the health of our relationships. Stress is our response to a situation. There are acute stressors (short-term stress) such as traffic, an argument with a loved one, a work deadline, or an uncooperative child; as well as chronic (long-term stress) such as an illness (self or loved one), financial strain, relationship problems/divorce; or positive sources of chronic stress such as getting married or birth of a child. 


Acute stress can help build resilience; but if not managed can turn into chronic stress. Symptoms of stress include headaches, memory problems, muscle tension, chest pain, shortness of breath, irritability, and fatigue. Chronic stress can increase your risk of high blood pressure, migraines, weakened immune system, digestive problems, heart disease, insomnia, and diabetes.

Anxiety involves feelings of fear or worry about the possibility of danger or a negative outcome. It can happen without being triggered by a stressor or long-past the perceived threat has gone away. Symptoms of anxiety include rapid speech, irritability, muscle tension, restlessness, difficulties sleeping, chest pain, nausea, headaches, difficulty planning, making decisions, or concentrating. Occasionally experiencing anxiety is normal and there are practices that can help minimize its impact on your life. However, persistent symptoms of anxiety may be a sign of an anxiety disorder that can involve feelings of fear or concerns that are disrupting your daily life. 

It is not enough to only target the symptoms of stress and anxiety. Holistic stress management and anxiety-reduction approaches are necessary to get to the root causes of the stress and anxiety so that they don’t manifest into chronic health or relationship problems.

In 1:1 coaching sessions, we address both the symptoms and the underlying causes of stress and anxiety. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

  • Coaching is not a cookie-cutter approach where you are given a set of rules to follow and sent on your way! It's tailored to your specific needs, goals, personality, and strengths. Action steps are based on your goals in a way that fits into your lifestyle. You will feel fully supported both during the session and between sessions. Coaching helps to alleviate the stress - not add to it!
  • Your session time is your session time! We often feel we have to hold our emotions, thoughts, and frustrations in, yet when we continuously do this, we wear ourselves down. Coaching sessions allow you to come as you are to share openly without judgment or reserve. When we are honest with ourselves, we can then begin taking steps to heal and move forward.
  • Coaching provides the accountability to make progress at a pace that feels right for you. There is greater accountability and follow-through when you have regularly-scheduled sessions, opposed to trying to figure it out on your own. 
  • Google can be a great starting point, but coaching provides the support, structure, and accountability to make lasting changes.

If you are struggling with stress and/or anxiety and want to learn more about how coaching and mindfulness practices can help you, we welcome you to contact us to schedule a free discovery call. At Heart and Wings Yoga, we provide a safe space, support, and helpful tools that can reduce stress and improve your overall wellbeing.