This easy yoga pose for relieving depression and anxiety is described in the video below. DO try this at home!
Looking for natural mood relief? Try yoga for depression and anxiety treatment. Yoga can help center you and bring you back to your true self – which is not your thoughts or emotions! I’ve found a wonderful DVD available on Amazon: Yoga for Depression and Anxiety, by Ira Israel. You can read some of his insights on yoga for depression below. And take a look at three of the best yoga poses for depression and anxiety on the 5-minute video from Valerie Goodman. Enjoy!
Yoga for Depression and Anxiety Treatment [Ira Israel interview]
How can yoga help if someone is feeling depressed?
Ira: Yoga and meditation – along with physical exercise and eating correctly – are the best ways to treat the symptoms of depression because they bring you into the present moment. If you are in “the zone,” being present, and focusing on your breath, then you send your maladaptive thinking on holiday for a bit.
Why is yoga helping?
Ira: In yoga we cultivate equanimity – peace of mind – by GOING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THOUGHTS. Descartes was misguided: “I think therefore I am” is not an interesting way to regard your true “self.” “I breathe therefore I am” is a much better mantra. Or “I am aware of my thoughts, therefore I am” is OK also. But if you identify with your thoughts as we do in the English language when we say things like “I AM SAD” (I = sadness) or “I AM ANGRY” (I =anger) then we are inaccurate. Your essence is not sad or angry; you are a human being temporarily experiencing the passing emotions of sadness or anger. You are not your thoughts; you are not your emotions. And if you think you are your thoughts or emotions then you’re going to be dragged around by those wild horses for the rest of your life. Thoughts and emotions are like passing clouds.
Has anyone done some scientific research – yoga for depression?
Ira: There have been many studies done over the past 5 years that prove that placebos are as good as medication in treating so-called “depression” and that exercise and yoga are BETTER than medication in the long run. Medication does not cure or solve depression; it just anesthetizes people so that they can get back to work.
Yoga for Depression and Anxiety Treatment [video]
You can try these yoga poses for depression and anxiety at home. (Not from Ira’s DVD).
For the full 75-minute video from Ira Israel, click here: Yoga for Depression and Anxiety DVD. The DVD has a 4.5 star rating from 166 reviews on Amazon! Typical of the reviews is the following 5-star review:
I suffer from mild anxiety and wanted to try a natural way of coping with it. After seeing all the great reviews on this DVD, I had to try it– and I am so glad I did! First off, it is a great workout. Second, it really does help me relax. At the end of the DVD Ira says something about how if you just concentrated solely on your breathing and nothing else for even one breath, then it did its job in ceasing your anxiety. It’s really taught me how to take 75 minutes out of my day and instead of constantly thinking and worrying, just concentrate on my breathing. It can be done!– you can realize how it feels to think more clearly! I’m not in the best of shape in order to do yoga, so unfortunately, I can’t achieve all of the poses yet, but it’s my goal to do so and I’m hoping it just gets better in time!
In today’s world, so many people suffer from depression and anxiety. Would you take a moment to share this important information about yoga for depression and anxiety treatment via the buttons below? Thank you!
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Thanks for finding this. When I get overwhelmed at work I get anxious. This may well be the solution for me!
Yoga is so effective for anxiety – even just taking a minute to breathe!
Thanks for the great review Lulu. I have been told of the great benefits of Yoga for depression and anxiety. Thanks also for the video, I’m going to give it a try.
Happy to hear you are going to try the yoga for depression and anxiety!
Depression is such a big problem for many people living in large urban centres today. It is good to know that taking time out daily to ground ourselves that some improvement can be had.
So true Rebecca. Thanks for your comment!
Stress and anxiety are such a problem for most of us, and it’s great to see this sort of input to help relieve that pressure and to help combat depression. Great stuff!
Thanks Peter!
Lulu,
This is very helpful to me. My Mom has depression and I always enjoy learning more about her condition.
Thanks, I truly enjoyed the video as well.
-Romy
Thank you Romy. I know how difficult it is having a family member suffering depression. I hope she’ll join you in a yoga practice!
I’ve been dealing with depressive disorder for almost two years ever since my husband Dan passed, and one of the ways I’ve tried to heal is by finding out as much about depression as I can. I’m currently leading a discussion group for women who are suffering depression, and I came upon your blog post while browsing for materials to talk about in this thursday’s meeting. I don’t know how it works for other people, but for me, information is strengthening, and the more I learn the closer I get to feeling normal again.
Thank for reading and commenting, Judith. I’m sorry that your comment was caught by the spam filter here! I wish you well on your journey back from a difficult time. Best wishes to you!