With everything going on in the world, and the weather getting colder, we are all experiencing some level of anxiety or depression, or most likely both. Yoga has been used as a very effective way to manage anxiety for hundreds of years. Whether it’s a situational anxiety attack, or a long-term chronic depression, Yoga can be used to help alleviate symptoms.
Why yoga? Yoga is an eight-limb practice. That means that movement, which we already know to be beneficial to anxiety, is one of eight parts.
The practice of yoga is beneficial for so many reasons.
The yamas and niyamas of yoga remind us about non-judgment and non-attachment and keep us more mindful. Mindfulness is so important when managing anxiety and depression.
Another limb is breathwork. By controlling your breath consciously, you can learn to control the entire body with just the breath. Yogic breathing helps increase blood flow, reduce heart rate, and reduce blood pressure, tames the body’s stress response.
There are lots of reasons yoga is such an effective management of anxiety and depression. I encourage you to try yoga if you’re experiencing these challenges. Meet us on your mat.
-Leigh
