Yoga and Anxiety
Yoga and Anxiety
You know that feeling you get when your heart rate increases? Your breathing quickens or it shortens. You may get a headache and sweaty palms. Your chest tightens, your muscles tense. You feel nauseous and find it hard to get a whole night’s rest. Some of you may mistake this for nervousness. Some may say that you only panicked.
The symptoms mentioned above happen when we are feeling anxious. We all have been there before. You know, during tax season or when life happens, we find ourselves unprepared. Maybe it's school and college life for some of us. Or it could be living through this pandemic and trying to find a little peace in it. All in all, anxiety happens to us all. This is how yoga can help.
Controlled Breathing
Breathing is naturally simple and is what keeps us alive every day. However, many of us don’t breathe correctly and because of this, we tend to hold stagnant energy. Our bellies don’t extend when we inhale and cave in when we exhale. At Yoga Tribe Brooklyn, our classes start with breathwork. And throughout the class, we are reminded to breathe while flowing. Since breathing is a significant part of yoga, our anxiety levels are slim to none. Controlled breathing will help you control your body and quiet your mind. When you are in traffic, before you go to work, while you feel like the walls are closing in on you, return to your breath and breath with intention.
Flowing Through Your Practice
Life gets uncomfortable. In yoga, when poses get uncomfortable, we breathe through the discomfort. We tell ourselves that this discomfort isn’t going to last forever. At the same time, we are breathing through discomfort, tension releases from our hips, joints, and muscles. While we flow from pose to pose, and tension, aches, and pains release, our spirit flows. Ever wonder why you feel at ease and refreshed after a practice. You make space for that stagnant energy to go and for your spirit to flow.
Mind-Body Link
Flowing is a way to silence anxiety, true. However, another excellent way to put anxiety at rest is to be mindful. You do this in yoga when you are observant of your mind and return to your practice after it drifts. To help with mindfulness, you may set a one-word intention or replay an affirmation within your mind while you flow. Either way, you link your mind to your body and vice versa. Believe it or not, you are learning to be mindful throughout your day. So, instead of giving in to anxiety, you sit with it, breathe through it, and tell yourself that this is a temporary discomfort, just like you do when practicing yoga.
Anxiety happens to all of us, and when it does happen, reference techniques you practice in your yoga class and be sure to practice yoga regularly, drink plenty of water, and embrace life. Let your body flow and release this heavy emotion so you can be your best version. We can’t wait to see you here.
