Are you always feeling like you have a rain cloud over your head? Is every day a struggle to get through? Do you battle feelings of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness? Even though you may be feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions, you can practice yoga to ease depression and find your days becoming lighter and brighter. You'll find that yoga is a great way to help relieve mild depression and complement any medication you may be taking. If you're not taking medication and would like to treat your mild depression naturally, then try yoga and you'll begin to see the sadness melt away. If you're concerned about not being flexible enough, don't worry, the poses described below are great for beginners.
So how does yoga help relieve mild depression? First, it helps to calm your mind and it also helps you feel more centered and peaceful by focusing your attention on your body. You will learn to be more "in-the-moment" and will spend less time brooding on negative thoughts. In essence, yoga is like a moving meditation. There have also been many scientific studies about yoga's ability to help relieve mild depression and it seems that practicing yoga helps to increase the levels of a neurotransmitter called GABA which is known to have a calming effect on the body. Not only does yoga raise GABA levels, it also lowers your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. As you can see, yoga is extremely beneficial for anyone suffering from mild depression or just feeling blue. Keeping up a regular practice of just a few postures can significantly improve your happiness level.
With so many poses though it can be hard to pick the ones that are best for relieving mild depression. I've narrowed the choices down to these three:
* Standing Forward Bend - Stand up tall and straight and as you exhale, bend downwards from your hips, not your waist. If you need to bend your knees you can, otherwise keep them straight. Touch the floor with your fingertips or palms. If you can't reach the floor you can grab your ankles. Relax into the pose, and stay there for about 30-60 seconds, then come back up. You can do this sequence up to five times if you wish.
* Extended Foot Pose - This is similar to the standing forward bend, except your feet are about 3 ½ to 4 feet apart. Bend down from the hips, and place your hands on the floor. Bend as far as is comfortable, and hold the pose for 30-60 seconds, then come back up and bring your feet together.
* Dolphin Plank Pose - Kneel on the floor with your back horizontal and your arms and legs vertical. Lower your arms to the floor so your forearms and elbows are supporting your upper body. Stretch your legs out so they are resting on the balls of your feet and not on the floor. Hold this pose for 30-60 seconds, then bring your knees to the floor and lift back up.
Please be aware that these poses are good for relieving mild depression-if your depression is more severe please see a doctor right away. Also, don't stop any medications you are taking even if you are feeling better, let your doctor decide if and when you should do that. Otherwise, have fun with your new yoga practice!
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