IN-Tuition Ltd
 Dynamic Solutions for Body & Mind
 
 


Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Buddha


Learn how to cope with stress

In today´s modern world we are all exposed to a high number of stressors every day. In the long run this can jeopardise our health and bring us to the very edge — physically and mentally — depending on how we choose to cope with the stressors. Without being well prepared to handle stressful situations, a prolonged exposure to stress can lead to our becoming trapped in a vicious circle of tension. Continuous tension in the body and mind prevents us from recovering properly and puts us at risk of various stress‐related illnesses. By learning how to breathe properly and how to relax, you will become more aware and sensitive to the body´s signals. This will help you prepare and strengthen your defence against stress. IN–Tuition offers a complementary approach for preventing, managing and treating stress and stress-related symptoms by using various techniques acquired from yoga and mental training.

IN-Tuition´s services are open to both individuals and businesses and we offer:

  • Individual life coaching and Stress Management sessions
  • Specially Designed Stress Management Work Shops
  • Stress Management Courses through Integrated Mental Training
For more information on how we work please continue reading. For bookings or any other questions please contact us.


About stress

What is stress? Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of the body to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether these are actual or imagined . When faced with a stressful situation the body releases stress hormones, including cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. These put the body in a "fight/flight" mode which helps us deal with the situation. Usually, a little bit of pressure does no harm, it can be called "positive stress", under which we become more productive and motivated and perform better. But, when we are faced with too much or prolonged pressure the stress chemicals accumulate in the body and we are trapped in a constant "fight/flight" state, which is unhealthy both for body and mind.

Stress can be brought on by both positive and negative events. Outer circumstances may include sound, light, pain or environmental issues over which we lack control such as, housing, health, freedom, or mobility. Stress can also be brought on by social factors such as relationship problems, death, unemployment, or a heavy work load. Lack of sleep, too little exercise and the wrong diet can also put our bodies under stress.


Symptoms of stress

For our ancestors, the body´s response to unexpected and immediate changes and threats in the surroundings was vital for survival. However, in today´s urban complex society with continuous changes and never ending sensory stimulation, our bodies remain subject to a constant state of stress. Although the body´s response mechanism to outside pressure is the same for all individuals – build-up of stress hormones that increase the blood pressure, heart rate, and sweating etc; each individual will react to and cope differently with stress.

Some people may have a higher threshold than others depending on the context they live in and the support mechanisms available around them. However, if no opportunity is given to recover, even the most stable individual will risk suffering the consequences of stress. Some of the most common problems that have been related to stress are:

 
  • Increased irritability
     
  • High blood pressure
     
  • Cardiac problems
     
  • Physical and mental tension
     
  • Insomnia
     
  • Drug abuse
     
  • Indigestion
     
  • Loss of concentration
     
  • Depression
 


Techniques to deal with stress

Stress tolerance and how we tackle stress is individual. It is not the amount of stress we face that matters – it is how we cope with it. Learning how to cope efficiently with stress will help you not only to become more comfortable in stressful situations, but can also prevent stress from becoming chronic. There are many methods to tackle stress including breathing and relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation and mental training.

  • The importance of breath

    In stressful situations we are often told to relax, calm down and stay focused. However, relaxing is easier said than done. When we get stressed, our breath tends to get shorter and shallower, our mind gets distracted and we tend to lose control. Through specific breathing techniques you can become more aware of your breath and learn how to keep it calm when facing stressful situation. By becoming more aware and present you will become more in control of your reactions. In this way you can efficiently prepare the body and mind how to respond in stressful situations.

    Breath awareness will:
     
    • Calm your mind and make you more present
    • Stabilise your centre of gravity and make you more stable
    • Lead to relaxed control
     

  • Re—integration of body and breath through yoga

    Calm and deep breathing stabilises not only the body but also quietens the mind. In yoga practice this is precisely what is taught. Yoga is breath. Focus on the breath allows the mind to become centred and less likely to drift off. The breath becomes is link between body and mind. Yoga practice can also be beneficial in easing physical tensions that may arise through stress and that could lead to psychosomatic stress related illnesses. Many yoga postures are specifically constructed to ease tensions in certain parts of the body and open up areas where tension tends to accumulate: lower back, pelvis, ribcage (chest), shoulders and neck.

    Yoga practice can help to:
     
    • Increase self awareness and presence
    • Re—integrate the body and the mind
    • Release physical, emotional and mental tensions
     

  • Mental and physical relaxation

    Prolonged stress, if not dealt with properly will gradually leads to tension accumulating in the body. When faced with chronic or constant stress, this tension might not ease by just resting. Mental training and relaxation techniques have proven efficient to help lower this kind of tension. Learning how to relax physically and mentally helps lower the basic tension in the body. Mental training and relaxation techniques can help lead to:
     
    • better sleep,
    • more energy and ability to focus
    • an increased level of happiness
     


Integrated Mental Training

IN-Tuition Ltd works with a specific training technique called Integrated Mental Training (IMT). It is a method that focuses on stress management and personal development through the acquisition of certain mental skills, using relaxation, visualisation and self hypnosis. It was developed in Sweden by Professor Lars-Eric Uneståhl of Uppsala University, based on research with primarily athletes that started in the 1960s. The method was first applied in sports, but has since been expanded to include all areas of life. Sweden was the first country in the world to bring the mental training method to all areas of society and IMT has therefore become known as the "the Swedish Model of Mental Training".

IMT focuses on positive goals, attitudes and images. It works on the mental processes of thoughts, inner images, attitudes and emotions that can lead towards a better life. IMT is specifically beneficial in combination with life coaching and/or stress management but can also be practiced individually. IMT can be particularly efficient for recovery from ME, chronic fatigue, and depression as well as for people suffering from long term stress who have been diagnosed with "burnt out" symptoms.

  • The IMT process

    IMT works in several stages:

    Step 1 – physical relaxation – helps lower physical and mental tension in the body through progressive relaxation techniques. Lowering of the basic tension gives the body and mind a chance for proper recovery. It also teaches the body how to reach the state of relaxed effectiveness which is a combination of optimal tension in the muscles that allows the body to function more efficiently.

    Step 2 – mental relaxation – introduces a technique of self hypnosis which teaches the practitioner to reach an altered state of consciousness (ASC). In this state, which is in fact a state of very deep relaxation, the practitioner will be closer to his/her subconscious. It is in this state where most of the work IMT takes place.

    Step 3 – personal development – Once the basic physical and mental tension is lowered and the practitioner masters the technique of self-hypnosis, IMT goes on to work with:
     
    • Self–image training
    • Goal–images and Motivational training
    • Attitude and Mental toughness training
    • Emotional, Social and Life–quality training
     

  • The IMT training

    The IMT training is very simple and can be carried out at home. It is a step by step process based on pre-recorded material where the individual works at home in combination with initial guidance by a mental trainer/coach. The basic training programme takes an average of 11- 16 weeks. Ideally, training is carried out daily (5 days a week) for about 15-minutes which is the average length of each programme. Once the practitioner masters the technique, he or she can continue working independently without the need of a guide or the pre-recorded programmes.


  • Regular training will lead to the best results and systematic training will after a period of time lead to personal development. Just like the importance of training physically in order to maintain a good physical health, mental training is equally important for creating and maintaining a strong mental health.

    For more information on the training and to order the programme click here or contact us directly.

 

 
 


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