Whether it stems from work, the economy, school or other responsibilities, it’s safe to say that almost everyone has some sort of stress in their life. This is one of the reasons Elena Porter has decided to start a new Christ-Centered Yoga class at Mountain Park Community Church.

Restorative yoga poses are often the prescribed remedy to help alleviate stress, but how big a problem is stress really? Well, pick any person off the street and they can tell you how stressful daily life is. Sometimes it can seem as though there is no end to the pressure. Having to face the reality of juggling a job, a family, an education and any other pursuits can really start to wear on a person's constitution. It is a well documented fact that stress can be at the root of a number of conditions including headaches, backaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure and stomach ulcers. In extreme cases it may even contribute to such things as heart attacks.

Sadly that's not all. Just think about a point in your life when you felt stressed and overwhelmed. Do you remember the associated depression? Do you remember the feeling of not wanting to get out of bed in the morning? Do you recollect not feeling able to face the day? The strain of dealing with what life throws at you can be debilitating on both the body and the mind, and the mind cannot find the will to continue the struggle the body will be quick to follow. That's why the practice of restorative yoga poses is becoming so essential.

Restorative yoga poses work in two ways to alleviate stress: by working on the physical body as well as soothing the mind. Let's take the body first. Remember that some of the effects of stress can include ailments such as muscular tension and stomach disorders. Restorative yoga poses, as with all yoga postures, serve to stretch and strengthen the joints and muscles. This can relieve a lot of the tension in the body. In addition, some of the positions aid in massaging the internal organs. This increases the blood supply to said organs and helps with proper functioning. Let's not forget about the benefits of improved circulation itself. This can give your immune system a big boost so you don't come down with a cold every time you have a tight deadline at work.