8 Yoga Poses for Depression.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression.

It not only affects our minds, but is also one of the leading causes of disability.

Chances are, you’ve already experienced depression at some point.

There are certainly plenty of triggers: juggling work and family, deadlines, break-ups, divorce, unemployment…all can send us into a deadly tailspin.

Finances are also a cause of concern, with millions routinely struggling to make ends meet.

And with a rapidly aging population, the older we become, the more likely it is we will suffer from mental illness.

Perhaps the greatest danger of depression, is its hidden nature.

Subtle and discreet, we barely notice its onset.

Depression is, therefore, a silent but toxic illness.  And one you need to guard against.

Because recognizing when you’re depressed, may just save your sanity. So if you’re struggling with the blues right now, then you need these 8 yoga poses for depression.

“Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stress and struggles of life” – B.K.S Iyengar.

Signs of Depression.

Would you recognize if you were stressed?  Do you know what the signs are?

Some common indications of depression are:

• Low self-esteem and self-image
• Personal feelings of worthlessness.
• Crippling feelings of despair
• Extreme irritability over minor things
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Anger management issues
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Fixation on the past or on things that have gone wrong
• Thoughts of death or suicide

And depression not only affects our minds…

Related post: Stress Relief: How to Avoid Stress

Health Issues.

Depression is linked to a number of serious health issues:

• Insomnia or sleeping too much.
• Debilitating fatigue.
• Increased or decreased appetite.
• Weight gain or weight loss.
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
• Unexplained aches and pains.

Costing the economy billions of pounds, it’s something we can all suffer from.

So can yoga really help?   And how can we use it to stop depression?

Related posts: 10 Yoga Poses to Relieve Stress

The Benefits of Yoga Poses for Depression.

I’m a typical type A personality: highly strung, competitive and my best is never good enough.

Discovering these 8 yoga poses for depression helped change all this.

Embracing its core tenets has helped to heal many scars.

It has become my protector, shielding me from myself.

And whenever I feel that I’m close to breaking point, I turn to yoga as my guiding principle.

It is both my counsel and my physician.

Yoga increases blood circulation to the brain increasing your alertness and mental clarity.

It also boosts the production of your brain’s bliss hormones, making you feel great.

All this stacks up to inner peace, tranquility and a surge in energy.

Not the jittery kind experienced with caffeine, but the calm reassurance that you’re now capable of tackling anything life throws at you.

So are you ready to conquer your worries and sadness?  Do you want to cure your depression?

And how does increasing your self-image and boosting your confidence sound?

Because these 8 yoga poses for depression can do all that and more!  In addition, it’s totally natural!

“Yoga is not about self-improvement, it’s about self-acceptance”.

Related: 10 Surprising Benefits of Yoga

8 Yoga Poses for Depression.

1. Child Pose.

Calming, soothing, the innocence of the child pose is like a warming bath and is great for relieving your stress, anxiety and fatigue.

This pose gently stretches your back and hips for a deep sense of relaxation.

Related post: 7 Yoga Poses for Beginners

2. Bridge Pose

We carry most of our stress and tension in our back.

The bridge pose strengthens your muscles and relieves a tired back, helping you to relax and ease away your anxiety and depression.

”Yoga is the dance between the light and the dark within you.  The light is what brings you back to the mat and the darkness is what you uncover there.  Don’t be afraid of this darkness; these are only shadows and though you’ll have to walk down some pretty dark alleys, remember you are grounded in the light and that light will set you free.”

Related post: 11 Yoga Poses for Weight Loss

3. Cobra Pose.

The cobra pose boosts energy and mood.

It also strengthens and nourishes a tired, tense back thus building on the effects of the bridge pose.

4. Upward Facing Dog.

This pose is a sure-fire way to cure fatigue and depression.

The upward facing dog is the finishing perfecting touch to melt away the tension trapped in your back.

“Silence is not silent.  Silence speaks.  It speaks most eloquently.  Silence is not still.  Silence leads.  It leads most perfectly.” – Sri Chinmoy.

Related post: Silence Your Inner Critic: How to Stop Negative Thoughts

5. Downward Facing Dog.

A staple of most yoga classes, and for good reason.

The downward facing dog helps to improve digestion, opens up your back, stretches your hamstrings, increases cerebral blood flow and calms your being.

Related post: 10 Yoga Asanas for Strength

6. Plow Pose.

The plow pose nourishes your nervous system and brain.

It helps to keep headaches and insomnia at bay, which are both common symptoms of depression.

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do”. – Rumi.

Related post: 37 Health, Fitness and Lifestyle Lessons

7. Forward Fold Pose.

The forward fold, reduces stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue.

This pose keeps your spine strong and flexible and stretches out your hips, hamstrings and calves.

Related post: 10 Depression Coping Skills

8. Corpse Pose.

Not the best title to chase away the blues.  Maybe we’ll stick to its sanskrit name, ‘Savasana’.

This common final pose of any yoga class is one of deep restoration.

Savasana rejuvenates you and helps your body relax.

It reduces blood pressure and leverages the healing effects of the previous poses.

“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in.  And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and who we already are” – Rolf Gates.

Introducing: Yoga Burn for Women

If you’re really serious about improving your health with yoga and want a simple yoga strategy you can use in the comfort of your own home, then I highly recommend Zoe Bray-Cotton’s Yoga Burn for Women.

Yoga Burn for Women promises to help you:

• Shape and tone
• De-stress and relieve tension
• Manage your weight
• Gain flexibility
• Boost immunity and
• Generally become more happy and healthy

In fact, Zoe is so sure that you’ll love the results from Yoga Burn for Women that she offers a full, 60-day, no-questions-asked money back guarantee in the unlikely event that you’re not delighted with your results.

Not only do you get this RISK FREE money back guarantee, but if you act now, you’ll receive Zoe’s Limited Time Price Offer and access to her weekly BONUS videos designed to improve your overall experience and results with Yoga Burn for Women.

In this program, you’ll learn the secret to Yoga Burn for Women’s success – a technique known as Dynamic Sequencing.

This strategy forces your body to adapt, giving you a more shapely, feminine body that looks great.

What’s more, Yoga Burn for Women is designed exclusively for women from any walk of life who want to lose weight and get in shape, without trekking to the gym and spending countless hours performing fruitless cardio.

The program is specifically tailored to suit women of all fitness levels from the very new to advanced yoga students.

You’ll also learn how to optimize each pose to take advantage of your very own fitness levels.

Check out Yoga Burn for Women here!

I hope you found these 8 yoga poses for depression helpful.

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