Healing depression through Yoga

This article tells us about how it can be cured depression through Yoga. It is common to feel sadness from time to time, and when this occurs, it can be healing to feel and be with our emotions. Acute feelings of depression can be a sign that your body and mind need a break. Take a nap, read a book, stop being lazy and accept what you are feeling. If you are experiencing the onset of mild depression, try a few yoga poses that are sure to help. Yoga regulates and energizes, this can help alleviate many of the symptoms of mild depression. Yoga postures activate and move prana (vital energy) in the body, open the heart center, stimulate the nervous system and balance the body-mind-spirit. If they are mostly feeling frustrated, use postures that open up the inside of the legs (limit angle, foot angle) and stretch the sides of the torso (half circle, crescent). For feelings of sadness and pain, focus on poses that open the chest and inner arms (fish, threading the needle, boat). If you have low motivation or lack of energy the use of forward and backward bending postures (cobra, sun salutations). A slow and gentle practice is recommended, don't push yourself too hard, or you may end up more tired than you started. Exercise as often as possible, each day is more beneficial. Other yoga exercises are very effective in moving through depression. Practice Kapalabhati Pranayama to energize the body and Nadi Sodhana Pranayama to reduce stress and anxiety. Severe or chronic depression (more than four weeks) needs to be treated by a medical professional. Yoga is contraindicated with severe depression or other serious mental disorders. A yoga practice should be used to complement conventional treatment, not replace it with yoga therapy. Namaste, Nina