Stress and Burnout

by Justine Glenton

An Ashtanga & Zen Yoga Teacher

By the time we have reached the month of March, we are all completely submerged in our busy lives with schedules, commitments, deadlines, dramas and our personal evolution; not to MENTION those quarterly bills looming somewhere in the background. Some of us may already be feeling overwhelmed, stressed and burnt out?  The first thing I want to say and remind you about is simple, please '"Take the time to: BREATHE - Consciously and deeply as you can". For something that we can live for only a few seconds without, we can do it so badly and this sustenance is totally free and available to us 24/7!  When we are anxious we can literally 'hold our breath', and how much better do you feel instantly after just a couple of 'deep breaths', note how your body responds immediately.

by Matthew Powell

A Body Aware Specialist

The link between stress and burnout is a linear one - stress can exist without burnout but burnout cannot exist without stress. Stress therefore, is the precursor, the forerunner if you will.

When we are stressed our body is, in effect, on high alert and our senses over-engaged. It results in us becoming tunnel visioned and our ability to deal with multiple tasks is lost. This is a manageable, almost a symptomatic byproduct of our day and age, but if there is never any break to this stress, if it is prolonged and incessant, it will lead to burnout.

by Lucy Miller

A Fitness and Nutrition Expert

We all know that exercise is a great way to beat stress, lose weight and boost your confidence, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing – I’m a great example of this. I love being active and hate rest, and have suffered with many injuries because of this. It’s only the last few years that I’ve learnt the importance of rest and that adequate rest and recovery is absolutely essential if you want to see results from your workouts.

by Maureen Cromey

An Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Expert

“Aaah that’s it I can't go on.  I’m angry, tired and cannot sleep. My sides ache, I fantasise about running away, leaving it all behind.  Hate meeting new people and the only way I can relax is with at least half a bottle of wine.  I need plenty of coffee to wake up and don’t feel hungry at meal times but I do love a bag of crisps down the pub.  And a kebab on the way home. 

by Dr. Sarah Brewer

A Nutritionist and Doctor

10 Ways to Conquer Stress

Feeling at the end of your tether? Follow these tips to help reset your body’s ‘Fight or Flight’ reaction back to the ‘Rest and Digest’ response to become an oasis of calm:

by Steve Halsall

A Celebrity Personal Trainer

Breathing - Your new best friend

No matter who we are, what we do, what we have or what we have achieved, every single one of us will at some-point reach a point in our lives where we feel like exploding or staying under the duvet with the light off. I have a very well healed client, ‘A’ list husband, big house and all the trappings that that life brings, stressing to the point of hyperventilation overt the new nanny ‘not being quite on her wavelength’. I wonder how she would cope in the back streets of Delhi for a day or two.