International Yoga School – Yoga Teacher Trainings and Sound Healing, Rishikesh

Yoga’s Power to Cure Depression

Yoga’s Power to Cure Depression

Urdhava Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog)
Urdhava Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog)

Have you ever felt too tired to get out of bed, even after a whole night of sleep? Or cancelled on meeting a friend as it got too overwhelming suddenly.
These are not signs of laziness. Yes, many people feel we are too lazy to perform day-to-activities and want the easy way out. But in reality, there is just a huge amount of sudden emptiness we can’t seem to shrug off.
Depression is a serious medical condition which requires urgent help from psychiatrists. Ignoring it might lead to suicidal thoughts a worst.

Before going into deep meditation stage you need to follow the simple niyam/Rules of Yoga. In addition, medications for depression or stress need a lot of time to reach that level. Cause, we can not get into that stage of self-awareness very quickly. But, with the help of some yoga asanas, everything is possible. Yoga helps improving blood circulation to our brains. It also increases the production of mood-enhancing hormones to help us feel relaxed.

1. Bridge Pose (Sethu Bandhasana)

Lie down on your back on a flat surface. Use your yoga mat. Now, place your arms parallel to the body, palms on the mat. Bend your knees and drag your feet towards your hips. Also, make sure your feet on the floor are slightly apart. Now, start lifting your hips up. Raise your lower back off the floor too. Then your upper back. During this, Your torso should touch the chin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2GMl7usr8U

in Addition, squeeze your hips together and push them upwards. So, mainly both the sole of your feet, your shoulders and back of the head is grounded, Rest of the body in the air making like a bridge.
Hold the stance for 3-5 seconds and relax back. Repeat it a few more times. Keep your Face relaxed.

2. Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)

Stand straight and let your feet be close to each other. Put the hands on your hips and Roll back your shoulders. so that your chest will pump up. Now, Bending from the hips Lean your upper body forward and bring it down. Keeping your spine straight Balance the stance by letting the arms extend down to hold the floor. Your arms should be right below the shoulder line. Take a deep inhale and as you exhale Lower your torso towards the legs and wrap the arms around your ankles. you could slightly bend your knees. but not too much. Hold it for few breaths and comes up slowly.

This video showing 2 asanas including the Forward Bend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYDNbeoUjqk

3. Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)

Lie down on your abdomen and keep your feet apart by a few inches. Your toes should be facing out. Now,  Bring the hands on either side of your chest and place the palms on the floor. Roll out your shoulders. With the help of your palms, lift your upper body from the ground. Arch up your back and look forward. Your arms should be right below the shoulders. There should not be any stress in the lower back. squeezing your hips will take away the extra pressure from the lower back. Breathe out slowly and relax your body down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0X1DNKcxgw

4. Child Pose (Balasana)

Sit down on your thighs and place your palms on the knees. Your feet at the back should be touching inwards. Bend your upper body forwards and simultaneously, straighten out your arms towards the front. Your torso should touch the upper thighs and the face should be right above the floor. Keep your arms straightened out forward on either side of your head. Thus the final position is like a child sleep sometimes. The spine should not be curved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2GMl7usr8U

5. Corpse Pose (Savasana)

Perform this yoga-asana at the end to relax your entire body.
Lie down on your back and extend the arms out on either side, palms facing up. Let your legs extend sideways and relax them. Close your eyes, breathe in and breathe out slowly, calming down your body and soul. No Muscular movement, every muscle, every joint should be relaxed. Don’t try to control anything. Concentrate on your Breathing keeping your face soft and tension free.

savasana
savasana

A blended medication of yoga and counselling will help you combat the depression. Remember, Yoga is Mother Nature’s way of helping her children out of severe conditions.

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