Overcoming Depression and Anxiety

In our fast-paced world, depression and anxiety have become common struggles. The pressures of daily life and social media can disrupt emotional balance. However, yoga offers a powerful remedy, promoting harmony between mind and body. This article explo

Depression and anxiety have recently become common problems. as lives have become fast-paced, and we are all overexposed to social media, where lifestyle comparisons are rife. A clear understanding of yoga, along with its principles and practices, can lead many to believe that everyone can live a life of emotional balance. According to one yoga practitioner, “Chronic stress, multitasking, the pressure to have it all, and a value system that emphasizes achievement over self-care make emotional imbalance, more common in the modern human experience.”

No one has seen a depressed toddler or a young child who appears apprehensive about the future. We all need to return to that simple, childlike state. With the right knowledge and effort, people can rediscover how to restore harmony and balance through learning to breathe and move properly. Without a concrete way to counteract negative thoughts, emotional imbalances may manifest in various forms, such as low self-esteem, constant worrying, insomnia, and a general sense of malaise. If this mindset persists, it will breed a continuum of emotional imbalance.

The common definition of depression includes a general sense of helplessness resulting from a self-perception of inadequacy, wherein the person feels powerless to control his or her life. All the information from the social environment is processed in the brain. Experts provide another insight into this mental health issue, pointing out that depression is imminent if a person exhibits five out of the following nine symptoms:
• Low mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in almost all usual activities
• Increase or decrease in appetite or weight
• Changes in sleep patterns (either insomnia or sleeping too much)
• Changes in the rate of physical activity (moving very slowly or becoming physically agitated and fidgety)
• Feeling tired • Feeling worthless or excessively guilty
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Harmonizing Mind and Body
Yoga understands the union between mind and body. It is through this union and balance that the body can heal the mind. “Like musicians performing a duet, the mind and body can compose countless variations on the themes of anxiety and depression.” This paradigm illustrates how yoga’s power can be harnessed to heal a troubled mind.

An overview of depression and anxiety reveals that part of the root cause is the inability of the body to get adequate rest and the toxic effect of negative thoughts. Yoga’s basic principle is the harmony of the two. If the body is rested, the mind is rested; if the mind is rested, the body is rejuvenated. When the mind is tired, the body also feels exhausted.

Yoga is one of the best ways to address the problems that plague both mind and body. The physical aspect of yoga strengthens the body, protecting it from injury and burnout while regulating various bodily systems. Simultaneously, it helps release the mind from negative emotions. The end goal of yoga is to create balance. With yoga, the body becomes more flexible, which correlates with the mind becoming more flexible and open to embracing change. A flexible mind is unafraid of the unknown. This insight relates to what Eckhart Tolle espouses in his book The Power of Now, where he explains that he lives in the moment and cherishes what he has, never worrying or allowing his mind to dwell on what the future might bring.

Yoga practitioners strive to create harmony, balance, and union between mind and body. They claim that regular yoga exercises and breathing techniques can calm both the mind and body. Yoga addresses anxiety and depression, but practitioners must realize that a few breathing and stretching exercises cannot immediately turn things around. One must not expect a miracle overnight. A more practical approach is to view yoga as a lifestyle. Consistent practice is recommended, and if a person is willing to learn these different principles, anxiety, and depression will have little effect on his or her life.

By Vijay Vaidya, a certified Ashtanga vinyasa teacher, has taught over 1000 students worldwide, including in Nepal, Bali, Vietnam, and Copenhagen. He specializes in Ashtanga yoga, including hip opening, hand bal-ance, inversions, back bending, power Ashtanga, restorative yoga breath work, and pranayama, ensuring correct asana execution.