Creativity, the source of all innovation, has remained at the forefront of scholarly inquiry by psychologists, therapists and now neuroscientists for decades. Creativity provides innovation at the source of all thought; how it expresses is almost infinite, whether that’s abstract painting, writing a novel, or problem solving when you’re hanging off the side of a cliff on belay. It stands to reason that the more innovative thinking there is happening in society at large, the greater the benefit to us all.

We’ve all heard that yoga is good for stress, but how you approach your practice may be the key to whether or not that promise holds true. Understanding how stress operates on your body can help inform how you approach your yoga practice to maximise its stress-busting effects.

In a results-driven lightning speed world where more is being asked of us than ever before, it’s no longer about “finding time” to recover, but recognizing that without preemptive rest we’ll get less done, fall further behind, and feel more overwhelmed than ever.

We are creatures of memory and anticipation, continually storing the memories of our experiences in the Hippocampus for later access. This ongoing cycle of psychological impressions (called "Samskaras" in Buddhism) is the very nature of the human mind, and believed to be the root of all suffering. Unless we're aware of this self-fulfilling prophecy, the older we get, the less new experiences we have. This is nature's way of conserving energy; if you have had this experience before, your nervous system doesn't have to figure out a new way to react to it.

Loving Kindness or "Metta" meditation comes from the Buddhist tradition and is a powerful tool for cultivating forgiveness, goodwill and compassion for all beings. According to Psychology Today, its benefits include increased positive emotions and social connections, slowed biological aging and decreased chronic pain and bias against others.

Are you feeling frazzled, anxious or overwhelmed? Experts agree that the time is now to practice stress reduction strategies to preserve your health and wellbeing. The ongoing financial and social uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has us all on edge, and it’s more important than ever for our health to make time for stress-reduction and self care.