MENTAL HEALTH & YOGA

EFFECTS OF YOGIC PRACTICES

Yamas and Niyamas help us to bring in discipline into our lives. This would help us to overcome all kinds of negative emotions like anger, frustration, jealously, hatred etc.

Asanas which are of different kinds namely forward bending asanas, backward bending asanas, spinal twisting asanas, inverted asanas, balancing asanas, meditative asanas, relaxation asanas done in different positions (Sitting, Standing, Prone and Supine). These practices help us to achieve muscular flexibility, relieve stress and tension, calm the nerves, regulate metabolism which would help to counteract depression, anxiety neurosis, eating disorders, and mood disorders.

Pranayamas are breathing techniques which include several varieties, some of which are alternate nostril breathing (Nadishuddhi pranayama), right nostril breathing (Suryanadi pranayama), left nostril breathing (Chandranadi pranayama), folded tongue breathing (Seethali pranayama), beak breathing (Seethakari pranayama), bellow breathing (Bhastrika pranayama), sounds breathing (Bramari pranayama) etc. These practices helps us to regulate breathing, deepens our breath and its awareness, counteracts stress and tension, awakens the mind, improves the alertness of and calms the mind. These practices help to handle anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, schizophrenia.

Prathyahara methods consists of gaining mastery over the sense organs by practicing relaxation techniques which puts our motor organs to rest which indirectly reduces the overload on our senses. This could be achieved by progressive muscular relaxation, autosuggestions, and biofeedback mechanisms.

Dharana and Dhyana which are nothing but concentration and meditation aim at managing the mind.

All the above mentioned practices will help us to achieve deeper knowledge about ourselves, identify our weaknesses and to overcome. It also helps to know our potential and gives us the hope about the situation and counteract effectively.