Yoga for Depression

(August 8, 2008)

Which yoga asan should be used to minimize depression?

Yoga can help greatly in the treatment of anxiety and depression. The breathing exercises of yoga termed as pranayam, (breath exercise) help in treatment of depression as it provides better pumping of blood to various organs of the upper part of the body so that the brain has increased supply of blood as well as oxygen, which helps in rejuvenating the brain and keeps the body active.

Yoga helps in providing freedom from the negative thoughts and creates an atmosphere of positivity all around. It increases awareness of the self as well as the environment so that one can respond accurately to the problems of the environment and take appropriate measures to handle it with care and bring positive results.

Deep breathing and relaxation techniques help in better concentration which also keeps the physique in order so as to take up the daily tasks with greater eagerness and wholesome interest.

Various breathing exercises can be used for treating depression. One should breathe slowly and deeply so as to gain maximum benefits from the breathing exercises on all the organs of the body. These breathing exercises help the body to relax from head to toe and contracting and relaxing the abdomen helps to pump the blood to various bodily organs in order for the body to feel rejuvenated.

Yoga exercises when carried out in specific order helps to obtain better results and that too in a very short span of time. Tadasana (Mountain Pose), uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend Pose), sirshasana (Head Stand), virasana (Hero Pose), savasana (Corpse Pose) and all pranayam (Breathing techniques) can be used for the treatment of depression and help the patient become free from various blockages hampering positive thoughts and active actions.

If chief cause of the depression is known and recognized, it helps in the treatment of depression. Generally it is anxiety what causes depression and yoga helps in restoring the mental state of the individual. It treats the restlessness and sense of nausea with the breathing exercises and provides freedom from stress and strain. It removes the fear from the minds of the people and also the sense of phobia and helps the body to have a normal and positive approach to life. It heals the body and helps to have better cognitive function in order to overcome fear and anxiety and helps to bring the body out from the depressive mental state. It assists in better blood circulation; this maintains proper functioning of all body parts.

Submitted by R J on August 8, 2008 at 01:33