Yoga and Depression

Yoga therapy practices are useful for people suffering from depression.



They work in a number of categories including slow learners in school. Yoga therapy’s integrated approach is the best way to proceed. For this reason Yoga therapy includes Yoga poses, breathing exercises, relaxation meditation and chanting as therapeutic tools.

A.



Yoga poses include

1. Halasana, Matsyasana, Sarvangasana, Supta Vajrasana and Viparita Karani. These alternate with standing poses like Padahastasana, Trikonasana and Virabhadrasana. They help increase blood flow to region of the head.
   
   
   
   When performed alternately with standing poses the changes in the blood flow tends to stimulate the brain cells by releasing the blockages.
2. Ardha Chakrasana, Vrikshasana, Sirsasana. People suffering from depression have to be helped by the Yoga instructor to maintain these poses for a while. This is to derive maximum benefit of these poses.
3. Surya Namaskars done with coordinated breathing.
4. Bhujangasana, Chakrasana and Ushtrasana help enhance one’s sense of self confidence as well as body posture.

B. Breathing practices are very useful tools to achieve excellent results. For this reason a lot of different styles of breathing. These breathing exercises are, often, in the name of animals that make it easy to remember whenever they are upset or wish to sit for at work or before going to bed. Cat stretch, Dog breathing, Lion breathing, Rabbit breathing, Tiger breathing, are all familiar breathing practices. Others include Bhastrika and Kapalabhati. These are also extremely practical and must be done together with Yoga poses to break to the monotony.

C. It is tough to teach meditation to people suffering from depression even though it is a very crucial component of Yoga therapy for better brain functioning. Hence chanting of Om as well as concentrating on the breath has the same effect on these people. These help maintain their concentration and improve awareness together with rest and relaxation.