Understanding Stress: What It Is and Why It Matters with Coach Jaya Prakash

"The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself." ~ Wallace Stevens

Guest Introduction: 

Welcome to Exploring the Seasons of Life: Travel Edition. I'm Cindy MacMillan, and I’m so glad you’re here.

A bit about our journey together: I launched Exploring the Seasons of Life just weeks before the pandemic, initially focusing on the unique seasons we, as women, experience—the beginnings, the endings, and all the messy bits in between.

With the launch of Pangea World Travel Agency, our podcast is evolving. We're now shifting our focus to explore the transformative power of travel, particularly for busy midlife professionals, empty nesters, and women. Join me as we dive into amazing travel experiences that enrich our lives, reduce stress, and help us grow. Each episode, we’ll have insightful conversations with travel experts, share personal stories from fellow travel enthusiasts, and offer practical advice to inspire your next adventure.

Let’s explore the seasons of life through the lens of travel.

Today, we have a special guest, Dr. Jaya Prakash, affectionately known as Coach Jaya. As a retired physician and professor, she has been helping young professionals, medical and chiropractic students, colleagues, and community members manage day-to-day chronic stress for nearly four decades. Her guidance is deeply rooted in mindfulness practices that are easy to adapt and sustain. She offers individual coaching, group workshops, and the Thrive workplace wellness plan. Coach Jaya is very active in the community, currently serving as vice president of the Kiwanis Club of Melbourne, ambassador for the Cocoa Beach Chamber, and member of many other nonprofit organizations serving the community.

Here’s a glimpse of our conversation:

Welcome Coach Jaya, thank you for being a guest.

2:57 Anytime you have mental or emotional response to difficult situations which seems interfering with your life. That is called stress. So, it is not so much as a physical response, but something which is mental and emotional, which is stretching your endurance beyond what you can deal with. Then that would be called stress.

10:23 We are digitally connected and socially isolated.

12:45 It’s not just the modern world, it is also just the loss of connected, real human connection. 

29:00 Travelling to new places also makes you more mindful because you're noticing what is in front of you, rather than obsessing about what happened last week or what's happening next week. 

Thank you for joining us today on 'Exploring the Seasons of Life: Travel Edition.' I'm your host, Cindy MacMillan, and you can find me at PangeaWorldTravelAgency.com. Remember, while stress is a part of life, it doesn't have to overshadow your travel dreams. Take a deep breath, plan that adventure, and let the journey transform you. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends. Your support means the world to us. For any travel inquiries or to start planning your next adventure, feel free to reach out to me directly through my website. Until next time, happy travels and take care!

You can find Coach Jaya at:

LinkedIn