Someone rightly said – A healthy mind is equally important as a healthy body.
On that note, let us not forget that following an exercise routine consistently does wonders when it comes to staying physically fit. You develop stronger muscle memory, and body balance; not to forget also release the feel-good hormones, Endorphins. Exercise is a great way to maintain peak mental conditioning especially if you include yoga for mind into that fitness regimen.
Your mind is the engine of the body. It helps you remain functional in the everyday life whether it is handling relationships or meeting the expectations of your profession. Yoga helps you overcome the negativity and stress of daily life. You need not take up expensive health club memberships or purchase special equipment to reap its benefits.
With that said, let us understand how exactly yoga can help boost mental health in the long run.
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What Mental Health Issues Does Yoga Help With?
Mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression affect millions around the world. These occur as a result of some underlying issues as past trauma, or unhealthy lifestyle choices. Regular yoga helps change this negative behavior and mental pain into a blissful state of peace and calm. Yoga helps you develop better emotional health that plays a vital role in improving the overall mood.
Including yoga for mind or attending spiritual healing retreat in your daily schedule can help you a lot. Yoga helps you fight the three major mental health issues affecting many around the world. Let us find out what these three issues are and how yoga helps you stay away from them.
1. Trauma
A traumatic event by its very nature brings out dark and painful emotions to the surface. Unfortunately, if left untreated then this trauma leads to a total shutdown of body and mind. Including yoga for mind helps make it easy to handle unpleasant and negative emotions.
2. Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are the result of a painful past or trauma like loss of a job, or a loved one. You experience feelings of hopelessness, and also develop suicidal tendencies.
Breathing techniques in yoga calm down the symptoms that accompany stress including sweaty palms, and tightness in the chest. Yoga helps you fight lethargy which is a common symptom of depression and anxiety.
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3. Stress
Stress is the most common mental health issue affecting the vast majority of individuals. It makes you hypervigilant and impairs the ability to become less reactive to a situation. Practicing yoga for mind does a lot when it comes to handling stress.
It stops the production of the stress-inducing hormone Cortisol. There are yoga poses that help calm down the parasympathetic nervous system and regain normal functioning. You are able to work and function with better control in stressful situations.
Yoga practice goes beyond just the physical aspects of asanas. The numerous breathing techniques help you bring body and mind into a state of equilibrium. You should understand that Yoga is a vast concept and the asanas treat a host of mental and physical health benefits.
With that said, it is time we know the most effective yoga for mind poses to help you maintain peak mental health in the long run.
Yoga Poses to Boost Mental Health
The first rule to getting the full effects of yoga is to focus keenly on the body part for which the particular asana is done. Let us now check out the three major yoga poses you can do for boosting mental health.
Also Read: 10 Minute Yoga Practice to Relax and Revitalize Your Mind
1. Anjaneyasana
This yoga pose, also known as the high lunge helps improve blood flow and keep the mind calm. Given below is how you can practice this particular asana for maximum benefit.
How to Perform the Anjaneyasana
1) In the standing position, lunge your right or left leg forward.
2) Make sure you bend the front knee and it remains in line with the ankle. Stretch your back leg.
3) Now, press the ankle flat against the ground on both ankles.
4) Raise both arms to the sky and connect both palms.
5) Breathe in and out in an even flow.
6) Repeat the entire process for at least 5 times with both legs.
While practicing this yoga for mind asana make sure the knee is in line with the ankle. The front knee has to be at a 90-degree angle.
2. Natarajasana
The Natarajasana also known as the dancer's pose works great for those suffering from depression and anxiety. Read on below to understand how to perform this asana.
Guidelines to Performing Natarajasana
1) Place both legs firmly on the ground, bend one knee backwards, and grip the ankle with your arm.
2) Maintain a steady posture, lean forward and lift the ankle towards the sky.
3) Next, extend the free hand in front of you.
4) Lastly, take 5 even and deep breaths.
Do not practice this pose during the initial start of yoga practice. You should have an experienced teacher to perform this asana. Do not practice this asana in case you have any serious injuries to the knee or ankles.
3. Padmasana
A basic yet the hardest yoga pose to master is the Padmasana. It does a lot in helping you improve digestion, spinal strength, and keeping the mind calm. You are able to handle both anxiety and depression with ease.
Guidelines to Performing the Padmasana
1) Sit in a cross-legged position and lift one ankle above your opposite thigh.
2) Next, place the ankle close to the hip and do the same with the other ankle.
3) Place both palms on your knees. Keep the back straight.
4) Lastly, breathe evenly for at least 30 seconds and relax.
Do not rush when it comes to practicing this pose. You need to go slowly and to an extent to which the body is comfortable. Do not force the body as it will lead to the opposite effect.
Conclusion
You should understand that yoga for mind offers a lot more than a calm mind. It goes a long way to helping you stay away from mental health issues as depression, anxiety, and stress.
