I’m sure you’ve heard it said but how does it work? How can yoga ease depression? There is the obvious factor: yoga is exercise. And yoga like other exercises release endorphins into your brain that make you feel good.
I love seeing my clients leave classes with goofy grins on their faces and eyes half closed. They have entered into what we call the sacred yoga space.
It is a personal time where they, for a little while, are not going to let anything outside of their practice distract them from their postures or their meditations. Instead of dwelling on daily troubles, they are concentrating on breathing deeply and improving their body through practice. They are challenging themselves to go deeper into a pose or meditating deeply on the words of encouragement form our Creator God. These are some of the things that aid in the emotional stabilizing effects of yoga: the feelings of personal achievement, coupled with encouragement within a community.
Traditional yoga culture would not miss the opportunity to bring up energy fields when talking about this subject. I am not confident in where I stand on that topic. The charkras are a part of yoga spirituality I do not practice. Though the human spirit is a mystery. Created by the divine, I never completely rule out things I do not understand.
I do know that there ar poses designed in yoga to stabilize emotions and evoke a vulnerability that leads to healing. it is not uncommon for someone to become surprised by emotion during a practice.
In yoga, many postures are designed to open the heart. Not only is this for purpose of deep breathing but when you open your heart to the outside you find yourself in a state of vulnerability. Our most comfortable posture during the day is to sit, shoulders sloutched forward, heart drawn in and protected. Yet, in poses like camel, where your heart is the highest point of the body pushing up and forward, you are leaving one of the most vulnerable parts of the body unprotected. Or in the backbend, which opens the heart to the world, as well.
Other healthy postures for depression are inversions. Positions like downward facing dog, plow, or shoulder stands put your head in a place to receive bloodflow to your brain.
Liking your out of the box approach, Bethany! It’s too easy for people to say, “just get over it- get a breath of fresh air,” or, “pray about it.” I like that idea of exploring different remedies (yoga in this case) and proactively battling depression.
Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for your comment! As a fellow battler of depression, mainly in my history, I know there is a great place for prayer with this issue. God put people in my life to help. Yet you also have to get clinical too, understand the science behind the depression and take steps to overcome it.
I’m sure that yoga would be good for depression, because any exercise helps us feel better, is good for the circulation, and takes our mind of our troubles. I always fell better after I’ve had a good fast walk, deep breathing, and good stretches. Combined with a constant relationship with the Lord, and using our talents to bless others, these all help to make us a happier person.
I agree! Deep breathing is very important. And something the majority of us take for granted. When we get stressed and anxious our breathing gets even shorter and uneven than normal. Sometimes an intentional effort to breathe deeply can make the situation so much better. Also, intentional times of silence and meditation.