Are you aware that stress and depression lead to a blockage of energy in our system? This energy impasse makes the body more susceptible to illnesses by compromising our immune system. This brings further pain and anxiety. By doing yoga regularly, one can control these feelings of uneasiness and lead a healthier fuller life. So read on and see for yourself how yoga can benefit you and relieve depression.
How Can Yoga Help?
Depression is normally a warning sign that helps in protecting physical and psychological health. It’s a warning that change and control is the urgent need of the hour. A depressed person usually has limited movement and activity. Regular exercising becomes impossible due to the impaired mental state.
- But as one begins with yoga, starting with a few poses a day combined with correct breathing methods, the activity becomes so pleasant that soon the person wishes to do more and more.
- These exercises put pressure on the internal organs and glands and help regain the body’s chemical balance.
- Yoga helps blood circulation, energizing the brain and muscles.
- Multiple poses used for stretching muscles flush out the toxins from the body enhancing flexibility and strength.
- Breathing patterns are affected by stress and doing yoga counter balances the harm that disturbed breathing has on the body.
- The deep breathing techniques bring fresh oxygen to all the parts of the body, increases energy, helps let go of anxiety and throw out the depression.
- Exercise is an intrinsic element of any recovery program primarily as it is gentle, calm and fluid in nature.
- It gets rid of physical pain, fights against lethargy, and improves self – confidence.
- Some studies have shown that yoga also increases production of serotonin, a brain chemical that is deficient in depressed people.
- Thorough relaxation and meditative practice enable a person to harness all the hidden strength and secret energy of one’s inner self to develop a support system that keeps them fighting fit through the adversities of life.
- It helps to quieten the restless mind and helps one discover the higher purpose of their lives.
Breathing Holds The Key
These exercises put emphasis on inhalation and exhalation. The focus is on using the muscles of the abdomen to squeeze added air out of the lungs on exhaling and a deeper inhaling on the next subsequent breath. Strong exercises of breathing help to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
- To overcome depression, breathing is important, especially deep inhalations and exhalations. Sun salutations and arm balances can also be therapeutic.
- A sun salutation is a type of controlled breathing technique which has shown results to treat depression.
- It involves cyclical breathing patterns which range from slow and calm to rapid and invigorating.
- The mind and body get immersed in yoga practice that there is no time to remain depressed and sullen.
Back-bends Get Rid of Toxins
Another form of yogic exercise is the back-bends. These help develop the heart center. They ease breathing, while improving posture, and alleviate stress by the release of tension trapped in the tissues of the chest and lung areas of the body.
- There are several back-bend postures. These include restorative poses to active poses and even full backbends. These put pressure on the internal organs pulling out the harmful toxins.
Conclusion
Regularly practicing yoga will energise your complete body systems and leave you refreshed and full of vitality. It is the best known therapy against depression as it releases blocked energy and increases the oxygen flow to the brain and other parts of the body. Breathing is key in yoga as are the bends, stretches and various other poses. Meditation with concentration on inhalation and exhalation can calm the mind and help remain positive in the face of hurdles and obstacles. Yoga helps overcome depression and helps you find your inner self.