Yoga Asanas For Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Anxiety and panic attacks can be cured with yoga asanas and meditation ?

Most people are unaware of the fact that yoga has been around for thousands of years. Some people believe that the history of yoga dates back to nearly five thousand years. Yoga is a technique in which mind, breath, and the body are connected together using various methods and postures. The concept of yoga holds that the brain can be controlled by the control of breath, whereas the breath is pacified by the proper use of the body. Various yoga Asanas (postures) help the body in improving different functions including flexibility. Muscles are well toned by yoga exercise. The blood circulation is improved, and the metabolism of the body is revitalized. Yoga is equally effective for strengthening the joints, ligaments, and tissues.

Asana is a Sanskrit word meaning seat. The word seat refers to a connection to the earth. The Earth depicts all living and non-living things present on this land contributing to the well being of the land. Mastering the art of asana means the perfect balance between us and the environment that surrounds us.

Yoga is not limited to yielding positive effects within the body. It is equally efficient in healing the mental illnesses. Yoga assists in the improvement of mood, concentration, memory retention, and learning efficiency. It decreases anxiety, depression and hostility, and increases one’s self-confidence and societal skills. 

Yoga is one of the best remedies for eradicating anxiety and stress. It also induces a positive and strengthening feeling. It is one of the best alternatives for drugs and helps to overcome any sort of mental illness. Recent medical research has proven that anxiety and depression are caused by a decrease in gamma-aminobutyric chemicals in the body. Regular yoga exercises help boost up the level of this chemical in the body, thereby wiping out anxiety, panic, and depression.  Yoga also helps to increase the production of endorphins, the happy hormone, which promotes a positive outlook on life.

Yoga and meditation

Meditation and breath control plays an important role in Yoga. The word meditation has Latin origins. It is derived from two words: meditari meaning to think, and mederi meaning to heal. Many people wrongly believe that meditation is a prayer or a religious ritual. Meditation is much more than that; it is a way of life. Meditation means to create an awareness of self as well as your surroundings. You can even be meditating whilst you breathe, look at the sunset, or watch the birds in the sky. Meditation greatly helps in reducing the effects of anxiety as it teaches harmony and peace with oneself.

Submitted by V A on February 26, 2009 at 11:41

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