Just like a plant needs proper sunlight, water, healthy soil, and fertilizer to grow, we also need yoga, meditation, and mindfulness exercises to grow mentally stronger in life.
Yoga is transformational in nature and has the power to change you. Yoga is ever-evolving and spiritual, and helps us to cultivate positivity in our lives.
Yoga asanas for the mind and body
We have a mindset that yoga postures only work on the physical aspects of the body like strength, stamina and flexibility. Yoga is more than just being a physical exercise. Yoga helps to shape our mind too, and works great for mental health.
Yoga asanas are the way to test the endurance and will of the practitioners. It is not an easy task to stay in a pose for a long time. You need to practice yoga, to build patience and determination.
During the practice of challenging asanas, you may feel like quitting the asanas mid way, because they are uncomfortable or you may have a difficulty to handle your emotions.
But you need to practice it.
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The power of self-talk
Self talk is the best way to keep up the positivity in life. The practice of self-talk is taken into account as a therapeutic activity that’s beneficial for both the mind and body. This is a practice that gives you confidence towards introspection. When you learn to have a conversation with yourself, it helps you search your mind for solutions and peacefulness.
Yoga also builds awareness
Awareness is what is needed and mindfulness can be cultivated with your breath. Awareness is a very useful device for people who struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
When you bring your focus on something concrete like your pose, your breath or on a mantra, it can have a very encouraging effect on the mind.
Pranayama is the best way to regulate emotions
Through pranayama or breathing exercises and meditation, you’ll slowly begin to know how your breath controls your emotions.
You can observe your breathing by training these techniques. Have you ever noticed your breath once you are stressed, during a state of anger, nervousness or anxiety?
You will find that your breathing is artificial, fast, hard, inconsistent, or shallow during unpleasant situations. Yoga through its various practices connects you with your breath, hence giving you the power to choose how you respond.
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Effective yoga techniques for good mental health
- Meditation techniques like swaas dhyan and sthithi dhyan allow you to gradually become an observer of your flow of thoughts. By learning to not resist them and by letting them flow instead, you’ll achieve calmness.
- Pranayama exercises like bhramari pranayama and anulom vilom can keep your awareness on your breathing until you reach a point where your complete focus is on your gasp and exhalation with your mind almost completely out of thoughts.
- Yoga lets you explore more wholesome ways to respond to negative emotions. So, start your daily routine with a combination of asanas, pranayama, meditation and chanting.
- Yoga takes care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation, Chandra Namaskar or Moon Salutation also can be included during this .
- All you need is an investment of minimum 15 minutes a day to centre yourself, and find that emotional balance required for living joyously.
