"Your body is an amazing adaptive machine. Ask it to be stronger and stronger it will be. Challenge it to go further and further you will go."
Stress is related to 99% percent of illnesses. And yoga has been proven to reduce stress, counter depression, and burnout which are leading causes of anxiety and panic attacks. In fact, I am a testament of how yoga can help you reduce anxiety, depression as well as prevent panic attacks.
Three years ago, yoga had such an amazingly positive impact on my life and when I really needed it the most. It was such a powerful transformation for me, it inspired me to become a teacher and spread the joy of yoga.
At the time, I was unhappy and angry. My best friend had passed away a few months prior, I started smoking cigarettes again, (sorry mom!) a bad habit I picked up prior in college, and I was working an extremely stressful full-time job. I was receiving discouraging feedback from co-workers and family and I felt as if no matter how hard I tried to turn my attitude around it never seemed like I was doing enough to meet everyone's expectations. And that was my problem. I wasn't focusing on myself but what other people thought I needed to work on.
Between my constant stress related anxiety and panic attacks I came to realize that I wasn't breathing ...I was simply holding my breath, especially during moments of high-stress. And when I was taking deeps breaths I was inhaling cigarette smoke. Blaaaahhh gross!
It was my 6:00 PM Friday yoga class that I looked forward to each and every week that I felt as my only savior. I was desperate to make it to these classes...so much so I would put work on hold and put in extra hours on the weekends if I had to. I had an epiphany leaving class one day (or maybe even the kundalini rise: The kundalini rises through the chakra centers from the base of the spinal column all the way to the top of the head, where the thousand-petaled-lotus chakra is located. When kundalini reaches the seventh chakra with its entire power, this spiritual energy develops its full majestic force in the form of enlightenment.) I knew I had to breathe, become a yoga teacher and share with others what I (and yet still have) learned.
Check out these yoga tips to reduce anxiety, stress, panic attacks and depression:
1. Breathe in. Breathe out. When your feeling unbalanced try alternate nostril breath.
2. Become aware of your thoughts and actions. Ask yourself, why am I feeling/acting this way. If you find the cause for your stress/panic attacks you can then begin to change your habits so you don't pull the trigger.
3. Try a wide variety of yoga poses that specifically aid with your symptoms of depression or anxiety. Some poses that help with these symptoms are below. Don't forget to breathe...in through the nose and out through the nose.
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)
Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose)
Salamba Sirsasana (Supported Headstand)
Keep in mind that I'm not a doctor and I'm not saying that yoga will cure you of anxiety, depression or burnout, but I can definitely vouch for the positive and refreshing affects of yoga. So give it a try with open arms and an open mind.
Posted by Raina on Monday, July 20, 2009