For me, living with depression felt like living under a weather-beaten old roof. I wasn’t going to creep out of it, either. My doctor had said so: I would always be one of those folks with perennially empty pockets. I would always be dissatisfied with life, forever longing for something I couldn’t have.
So I started taking tranquilizers and dutifully attended therapy sessions. Until I found myself – on a Yoga mat. That was in 1990. The next year, I threw my tranquilizers away. In fact, I haven’t even looked at them since. Through regular Yoga practice, I came to see that rather than a curse, my empty pockets were a blessing.
Yoga helps counter severe depression as well as other serious mental disorders. Severe or chronic depression takes several weeks to be healed by a psychiatrist. You can very effectively use yoga practices to complement conventional therapy; but not to replace it. By activating and move Prana in the body Yogasanas, open the heart center, invigorate and nervous system and balance the body-mind syndrome.
Yoga postures for Depression
Do lots of Surya Namaskars until you sweat and sweat followed by
• Ardha Chandrasana – half moon pose
• Ardha Matsyendrasana - half lord of the fish pose
• Bhujanghasana – cobra pose
• Janu Sirshasana – head to one knee pose
• Parivritta Trikonasana – Inverted Triangle Pose
• Paschimotthanasana – head to knees pose
• Pavanamuktasana –wind relieving pose
• Sarvangasana – shoulder stand
• Simhasana – lion pose
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Lastly do at least 15 to 30 minutes of Shavasana, deep, deep relaxation
Yogic breathing exercises can calm the mind, reduce stress and alleviate anxiety.
• Kapalabhati
• Nadi Sodhana
• Brahmari
Meditation helps lower the effects of stress, pacify the mind, decrease negativity and develop a positive mental attitude. Practice Yoga every day and it will change your life. It changed my life and the lives of many of my students. You will begin to recognize your wholeness.
