Yoga for Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response of your body to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or uncertainty about what’s to come or what will happen next. Based on general observation from day-to-day life we can say that the first day of school, going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel anxious, fearful, or nervous. But this is Normal it’s not an anxiety disorder.

But if your feelings of anxiety are extreme, last for longer than six months, and are interfering with your life, you may have an anxiety disorder.

What are anxiety disorders?

It’s very normal to feel anxious or nervous about moving to a new place, starting something new be it a new job or a new work, or taking a test. This type of day-to-day anxiety is very unpleasant, yet it’s important to motivate you to work harder and to do a better job. Ordinary anxiety is a feeling that comes and goes with time but does not interfere with your everyday life.

In the case of an anxiety disorder, the feeling of fear may be with you all the time. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of emotional disorder and can affect anyone at any age.

This type of anxiety may cause you to stop doing things you enjoy. In extreme cases, it may prevent you from entering an elevator, crossing the street, or even leaving your home. If left untreated, the anxiety will keep getting worse.

Types of Anxiety Disorder

There are several types of disorders that are intrinsically related to Anxiety. It is a key part of several different disorders. These include:

• panic disorder: it’s a condition in which one experiences recurring or repeated panic attacks at uneven or unexpected times. A person with panic disorder may live in fear of the next panic attack.
• phobia: When someone experiences excessive fear of a specific object, situation, or activity they are said to have been suffering from a certain phobia.
• social phobia/anxiety disorder: When someone experiences extreme fear of being judged by others in social situations he is suffering from social anxiety.
• obsessive-compulsive disorder: When someone experiences recurring irrational thoughts that lead you to perform specific, repeated behaviors he is suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): When someone experiences anxiety following a traumatic event he is having PTSD.

How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?

There are several treatment options available for different anxiety disorders. For some people, medical treatment isn’t necessary. Lifestyle changes may be enough to cope with the symptoms.

In moderate or severe cases, however, treatment can help you overcome the symptoms and lead a more manageable day-to-day life.

What is Yoga

According to Bhagwad Gita Equanimity, Stability, Balance, Harmony, Equipoise is yoga i.e. Samatvam Yoga Ucchyate.

According to Sage Vashistha, yoga is the skill to calm down the mind i.e. Manah Prasanna up ayah yoga.

And according to Great Sage Maharishi Patanjali yoga is the cessation of mental modifications i.e. Yoga is to gain mastery over modifications of Mind.

According to Guruji Shubham Barwala Ji, yoga is the recognition of Mental Modifications the moment they arise in our consciousness.

According to Guruji Neeraj Medharthi, Ji Yoga is the state of perfect balance.

Panch Kosha Based Yoga Therapy or Yoga for Anxiety

 Yogic Diet – Yoga for Anxiety

• Take Cow milk
• Fruits, veggies, dals
• Eat on time. Chew food properly.
• Sattvic home-cooked meals.
• Increase the intake of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. Include high-fiber foods such as vegetables, cooked peas and beans (legumes), whole-grain foods, cereals, rice, and fresh fruit in your diet. Choose foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Keep the body well hydrated.
• Avoid processed and refined foods. Try to avoid nerve stimulants such as tea, coffee, alcohol, dark chocolate.

Asanas – 8 Yoga Poses for Anxiety

• Hero pose.
• Tree pose.
• Triangle pose.
• Standing Forward Bend.
• Fish pose.
• Extended Puppy pose.
• Child’s pose.
• Head-to-Knee Forward Bend

Kriyas – Yoga for Anxiety

• Jala neti
• Sutra neti
• Vamana dhauti
• LSP

Pranayama – Yoga for Anxiety

• Nadishuddhi
• Bhramari
• Sheetli Shitkari
• Sectional breathing
• Ujjayi

Manomaya Kosha – Yoga for Anxiety

• Yoga Nidra
• Bhajan
• Chanting
• Emotional Counseling
• Prayer
• Mind Sound Resonance Technique (M.S.R.T.)

Vijnanamaya Kosha – Yoga for Anxiety

• Counseling about the disease, triggering factors, diet.

Anandamaya Kosha – Yoga for Anxiety

• Karma Yoga

Explore this Health Topic to learn more about Yoga for Anxiety, the role of yoga and yoga therapy for various diseases, and where to find more information regarding it.

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