Crying Time

 You are quiet. The room is dimly lit.  A light blanket envelopes you, cozy comfort.  A soft soft voice is whispering tranquil thoughts.  And you feel the tears start to sting your eyes.  Panic ensues. You are going to cry--here--among all these people in the yoga studio.

Guess what?  You are perfectly normal.  There are times when your yoga practice will clear enough inner-space to let your mind process deep, maybe even buried emotions.

Crying is nature’s tried and true stress relief method.  You may feel a little drained after such an event but generally after ‘a good cry’ you will feel better.  There are scientific studies that show a release of hormones and proteins (associated with stress) in the tears that are shed during this emotional release. The release of these hormones/proteins helps the body to return to a homeostatic state.  These studies also indicate that stifling your emotional tears can contribute to an elevated risk of hypertension and heart attack.

Of course, there is a balance to be attained.  If you are crying all the time, you should probably seek out professional counsel.  Excessive crying is associated with a number of conditions ranging from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder and is to be taken seriously.

So, keeping balance in mind, let the tears come out.  It is just another layer of your body-mind-soul connection being revealed and repaired. But also remember-- to let the light of love and gratitude shine back in.

This week's mantra: My mind is brilliant, my soul is tranquil.
Suggested video/song to enjoy:

Namaste, Kerry.
Alia  Hoyt,  "How Crying Works" 2 July 2008. HowStuffWorks.com.<https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/crying.htm> 21 October 2017.
WebMD https://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=excessive-crying&symptomids=400&locations=66
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.