Why Yoga can chase away the winter blues

Yoga is a great mood booster and it does it naturally. Any kind of exercise releases hormones that help ease the stress that often leads to the blahs, blues, or outright depression. A good yoga flow keeps your mind far from negative thoughts and allows you to gain different perspectives on your life.

Yoga has a unique effect on your mind

The practice of yoga calms the nervous system, and allows you to comprehend the link between your mind and emotions. They can both be used to help each other. As breathing is an important part of Yoga, it can also help you to limit anxiety, calm your thoughts, and help you concentrate on positive energy rather than negative. Yoga has a clear-cut connection between mind, body, and spirit that no other form of exercise or meditation can attain on its own.

“But I don’t feel like working out!”

We get it. If you are depressed or “down” you might lack the stimulus to exercise. But here’s the good news: It doesn’t take near as much effort to do a Yoga routine as it does to work out to a cardio video or drive to the gym. Negative thoughts can keep us from experiencing our vital inner nature. Doubt, hopelessness, despair, apathy and either sleeping too much or not enough are all signs of depression. Yoga is designed to bring you closer to your inner self; it then is only natural that it can help with some of the symptoms of depression.

“What yoga postures should I do when I feel down?”

Certain postures can influence your mood and allow depression to end. While one special Asana can’t cure depression it can assist in increasing your lung capacity allowing more oxygen to reach all the affected parts of your body including your mood. Asana postures can help depleted energy levels and sluggishness. You should ask your Yoga instructor to help you and suggest postures that would best assist you balance your moods. The most important part however is to just start your flow, start moving again! Any style of Yoga can help you exile the blues. It may not be physically demanding but you will feel so much better at the end of your session. Remember, if you have a severe depressive episode; seek advice from a professional. Consult with your doctor before starting to practice yoga to be sure there is no conflict with any treatment you may be undergoing. If you want to try a Yoga routine specifically for depression, find a teacher who can create a personal routine for you. Yoga teachers have been extensively trained for this purpose and know which positions that are the most suitable for remedial purposes.

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