How Yoga Can Help With Anxiety Disorder

Stress, fear, anxiety – if we start counting all those instances in life when we experienced these emotions, we may just lose count! Anxiety about the result of a Board exam or the reaction of our parents to the report card; nervousness about the first date or a job interview – we all would have lived through these moments. A little bit of fear is normal; in fact, just like salt in the food, it is needed so that we remain disciplined, focused and dynamic.

The problem starts when this fear becomes persistent and so intimidating as to start interfering with our everyday life. Then it becomes an anxiety disorder, a state of excessive uneasiness, worry, or fear of the unknown, which needs to be treated, and this is where yoga can help.

It’s also good to know that yoga alone should not be considered as the only treatment option. It should complement proper medication after consultation with a doctor or specialist. The doctor would guide you on the condition better and help you understand the type of anxiety disorder you may have – Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder, Eating Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, to name a few.

Symptoms to know if you have anxiety disorder?

• You feel unusually panicky, scared and uneasy.
• You tend to get uncontrolled, obsessive thoughts of past traumatic experiences.
• You wake up from frequent nightmares.
• You tend to repeatedly wash your hands.
• You have problems sleeping.
• Your hands and feet stay unusually sweaty.
• You get frequent palpitations.

How can yoga exercises help get over anxiety?

Regular yoga practice can help you stay calm and relaxed in daily life and can also give you the strength to face events as they come without getting restless. Yoga practice ideally includes the complete package of asanas (body postures), pranayamas (breathing techniques), meditation, and the ancient yoga philosophy, all of which has helped several anxiety patients recover and face life with new positivity and strength.

1: Move your body and relieve your mind of stress with asanas.

2: Breathe right with pranayamas to relieve anxiety

Taking your attention to the breath can help free the mind of the unnecessary clutter of thoughts that breed anxiety

3: Meditate to enjoy the gift of a relaxed mind

Meditation can be an excellent technique to relax a distracted mind, give you a sense of calm and peace, and also observe with daily practice how your mind works to keep you involved in small, petty things around. It can also help you not worry too much or get anxious of the unknown future.

4: Apply yoga philosophy in your life; stay happy and enjoy every moment

Knowing and applying the ancient yoga knowledge in daily life, which talks about some simple yet profound principles (yamas and niyamas) of yoga, can be the secret to happy and healthy living. The yamas and niyamas of yoga will also help us eat nutritious food and live a healthy lifestyle which greatly helps to overcome anxiety and stress. To understand the yoga philosophy, you may consider reading Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Commentary on Patanjali Yoga Sutras.

5: Pray, keep faith and smile!

Prayer is the best form of reassurance and support to keep you anxiety-free. Developing habits of daily prayer, chanting or singing bhajans (devotional songs) fill you with positive energy and also help still the mind. They also instill a sense of deep faith that all happens for the best and that there is a higher divine power that takes care. Moreover, make a conscious effort to smile more and more. It will instill confidence, calmness and positivity instantaneously. Try it out right now!

6: Think about what you can do for others

When we constantly remain stuck in ‘me and mine’, it makes room for stress and anxiety. We keep worrying about what will happen to us. Rather, shift your attention to how you can be of some use to others around you. Energizing yourself with some service activity can give you deep satisfaction and immense joy.

7: Know the impermanence of the world

When this realization sets in that everything around us is temporary and would change, we become relaxed and settled from within. A feeling of ‘this too shall pass and not remain forever’ arises in us and frees us from anxiety. Meditation can help us see this founding principle of life.

8: Remember a similar past situation when you could overcome anxiety

This fills you with immense courage that you can pass even this situation. Keep reminding this to yourself often.

9: Keep positive company around you

When you spend more time with positive-minded people, you are influenced by similar thoughts, which reflects in your overall attitude to life. Only a positive mind can breed joy, peace and relaxation.

Sign up for a yoga class in Delray Beach now to get started on using yoga to help with anxiety disorder! If you’re still struggling with anxiety disorder, contact an expert to supplement your yoga routine to get your life back on track to happiness.