Anxiety and Yoga
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Anyone who has attempted yoga has felt it: the struggle of trying to avoid losing balance and falling, while also struggling with racing thoughts and feelings of frustration. Practicing yoga is difficult. In fact, many people attempt, but they often fail to maintain the practice of yoga because of anxiety, which paradoxically is one of the major things yoga can alleviate.
NYC based Yoga Teacher (RYT) and licensed Counselor (LMSW) Alena Gerst, founder of Yogalena Therapeutics, said that everyone who practices yoga deals with this problem, but what’s important is one’s perspective. “Posing, or Asana, is one of eight limbs to yoga, and thus, is an eighth of what yoga is really all about,” she said.
Focusing one’s attention on the pose itself is the best way to overcome anxiety. Gerst added, “During a forward bend, for example, instead of succumbing to racing thoughts about discomfort; breathe, and concentrate on the sensation of what you’re feeling (think: 'I have tight hamstrings,' as opposed to, 'this hurts and I want to stop')."
Gerst said if we focus on stretching, sensation, and breathing, it’s difficult to think of much else. If we use our bodies to teach us through Asana (posing), instead of thinking, “I hate this, and I have other things to do” (a common experience among beginners), we can focus on the sensation (where the actual practice of yoga begins).
Becoming aware of the moment and then taking meaning away from it will lessen anxiety, because the sensation really just means our muscles are tight, and it means nothing else. Whether a pose feels right or wrong is irrelevant. The key is not to attach any meaning to your practice, but to understand that yoga is always a work in progress.
Proper Pranayama (breath work) during yoga is crucial. Generally, most of us live in highly over-stimulated states of consciousness, guided by our sympathetic nervous systems’ “fight or flight” response. This increases the presence of adrenaline and hormones in our systems.
Slowing down breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Following a “fight or flight” reaction, the heartbeat slows and blood pressure lowers.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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Yoga has been the answer to all my ails, even the ones doctors have tried medicating me for. I also was able to lose weight and am now working at toning. I recommend yoga to as many people as possible. namaste
June 27, 2011 - 6:05pmThis Comment