Reduce Daily Trading Stress: Relax, Refocus, and Make More Money

YOGA!  

To reduce trading stress

by Claudia Altucher

Giving my Day-Trader Friend a Yoga "Tip"

Yesterday I was talking to an old friend of mine who is now a full-time day-trader. He is a witty and funny guy who spends his days looking at monitors and watching stocks go up and down with his stress level along for the ride. "It can be brutal" he confessed, "got any yoga tips for a guy like me?" 

Back home I wondered about his state of mind while so much is at stake, what can he do to:

1- Relax,

2- Refocus, and

3- Make more money.

Traders are like warriors, they need to be fully focused and yet be relaxed to make the best decisions, they need a yoga mind, a centered disposition, sharp concentration, and strong nerves.

I decided to come up with a yoga strategy that will take them down into silence, release all tension, refocus and come back with a flush of balanced energy, AND that would only take a few minutes, as I guess Mike will not give me more than that.

This is it, and there is only one warning, do not do it if you just ate...

1- Step away from the computer, sit in another chair, no monitors, and close your eyes. You can do it. Breathe normally, but just a bit deeply for at least 5 breaths.

Benefit: You are giving your eyes a rest. You are becoming aware of your breath. This is the relaxing part, where you are re-connecting with your body.

2 - Roll your neck gently in circles, without forcing anything, this is not the gym, is actually a moment to relax. Let the tension in your shoulders slowly melt away. Breathe normally but a little deeper than in step 1.

Benefit: It will relax the muscles in your shoulders, and release tension.  Still relaxing.

3 - Now let your whole torso drop between your legs in front of you, place the hands on the floor for support if you want to, and just let all the tension melt. Play there, let the jaw relax, the face muscles melt, and stay here, breathing, for as long as you can. Feel all tension melting, allow yourself to let it all go.

Benefit: It lets all the tension melt away. The slight inversion will help clear your system (all inversions aid in cleansing the system)  It will empty your mind and give room for new ideas to come.

4- Slowly roll back up to sitting, do it slowly otherwise you will get dizzy. Once back into a straight spine position stretch your arms overhead and breathe. Stretch up as much as you can, then let the arms come down on the exhale but keep your back straight.

Benefit: Blood will circulate throughout your body in a refreshed way, your breathing will deepen, your mind will begin to re-focus.  Thoughts may come up, do your best to keep them away for a few more minutes.

5- Lay down on the floor. Yes, you read that right. Bend your knees and relax your neck. Put your arms on the floor parallel to your torso for support and push your pelvis up into the air. This is a gentle back bend. Stay here for a few breaths, and go deeper with it. Then come down. Repeat 3 times.

Benefits: your spine will re-awake, it will begin to energize you, your mind will be clear and fresh with new energy.  Ideas will begin to spark in your brain, stay with this, don't go into thinking mode yet. You will get even greater results if you dare do step 6. just be gentle

6 - Roll your hands up and put the palms next to your ears and come up for a full back bend (or wheel). Do not force anything.  It might be that you are not able to lift your head off the floor, that is OK, just go as far as you can. If it hurts stop, go only to where you can. If you are afraid of this pose respect the intuition and simply repeat step 6.

Benefits: Congratulations for taking this step. This pose awakens your whole nervous system, it will help you re-focus, give you a boost of energy, and make you look younger. Do not skip step 7 or 8.

7.- Sit down legs straight in front of you and pour your torso over your legs while trying to keep the legs as straight as possible.  Release tension from the backbending here.

Benefits: this is the counterpose to the extreme backbending, and it will restore the nervous system back to a neutral, centered position.

8 - Lay down on the floor and relax completely for at least a minute. Let thoughts go, and rest.

Benefits: You are balancing the passive and intense energy before you get back on that desk much wiser and centered.  Go ahead, let the flush of new fresh ideas come into your mind, go get it!

So there you go,  now put your hands up in the air, away from that mouse and keyboard, and step away from the computer!

Please visit earthyogi blog for more helpful information.  
Find Claudia Altucher on Twitter @ClaudiaYoga

SIMPLE CHAIR YOGA 

This yoga-friendly, ball chair can be purchased at Target for $99.