The kids are out of control, your job is a hassle, and to top it all off, you have no time for yourself. If anyone told you that you could reach a state of physical and emotional bliss, you’d say they were nuts. But believe it or not, you can beat the blues with yoga!
Yoga is a great mood enhancer that requires no drugs or medications. Like all forms of exercise, yoga releases hormones that help ease feelings of stress that often lead to outright depression. Being active keeps your mind away from negative thoughts and allows you to gain a greater and clearer perspective on the problems you are facing. People who are depressed, or simply feeling “down”, often lack the motivation to exercise. That’s why yoga can be such a great option. since it takes far less effort to complete a yoga routine than it takes to work out to a video or drive to the gym.
A word of warning: If you suffer from more than just the occasional bout of the blues and feel down for more than two weeks at a time, you should seek professional advice. A doctor or therapist may feel that you need a combination of medication or therapy with exercise.
Honestly, when one is feeling down, it’s hard to think positively. People who often feel low often lack the concentration to detach themselves from their thoughts. Yoga is a type of moving meditation, so it is easier to take your mind away from negative thoughts.
Our essential inner nature – that understanding of who we are and why we’re here – can be blocked by negative thoughts. Apathy, despair, doubt, hopelessness, and sleeping too much or too little are all signs of depression that must be addressed. Yoga is designed to bring you closer to your inner truth, naturally helping with to provide relief for some of these symptoms. With a focus on balance, yoga can even help to restore mental stability.
HOW YOGA CAN HELP
There is a definite connection between mind, body, and spirit that indicates people can beat the blues with yoga. Not many other forms of exercise alone can achieve these same benefits. Certain yoga postures also known as asana, can influence your mood and help to relieve depression, although asanas can’t cure depression altogether. Asanas can help increase low energy levels and relieve lethargy. They are also helpful in opening lung capacity to allow more oxygen to reach all parts of your body. Let us know if you’re ready to learn the postures that will balance your moods.
It’s also possible to beat the blues with yoga because of the calming effects yoga has on the nervous system. Proper breathing techniques are important elements in practicing yoga, as these can help curb your anxiety and quiet your thoughts, allowing you to concentrate on more positive energies rather than negativity or other worldly distractions.
As you learn more about yoga, you’ll come to understand the connection between your mind and your emotions, and you’ll find that they can help each other. Again, if you think you may be suffering from severe depression, please seek professional advice. With that said, yoga is a drug-free alternative that can be safely practiced in conjunction with any medication or therapy your doctor orders. Some yoga routines are specifically designed to alleviate depression and taught by instructors who have been extensively trained to understand the most therapeutic positions.
Even performing the most basic yoga routines can help lift your spirits. While not physically demanding like other forms of exercise, yoga will make you feel much better at the end of a session. Try it and you’ll find that you can beat the blues (and so much more) with yoga!
