Yoga for Anxiety and Panic Attacks

When you are anxious, stressed or feeling low, nothing seems to work fine and if you are asked to exercise at times of emotional turmoil, it might sound silly. But believe me you, exercises particularly yoga and meditation can relieve the stress off your mind leaving you feel rejuvenated and energetic.

Practicing yoga regularly calms the mind and gives you the strength to face the challenges without getting restless or panicky. It acts as an instant stress buster and promotes natural healing of the anxious or worried state of mind. There are certain poses or yoga asanas that are meant for combating the anxiety or panic attacks and practicing the same will show remarkable results in your personality. During attacks of anxiety or panic, the breathing tends to become shallow and quick which, in turn, worsens the mental condition. Thus, yoga practice also, involves yogic breathing exercises called Pranayam which soothes the nervous system and counteracts the panic attacks.

Try the following asanas and feel the difference.

The Lotus position: Sit crossed legged and hands on your knees with palms facing up. Close your eyes, focus on your breathing and try to calm the rapid breathing by taking deep breaths. Concentrate on the rhythm of the breathing and feel the breath move in your body. Inhale deeply, hold your breath for four to five counts and exhale slowly. Practicing it for a few minutes will calm your body as well as mind.

Fish pose: Lie on your back with arms at the side, now bend your back and lean as far back on the head as possible. This posture expands the rib cage and provides more space to the lungs for breathing thus, relieving the stress. Also known as opening the heart pose, this stretching exercise eases the respiration and releases the tension from the internal tissues.

Child’s pose: Bend your knees and lean forward so that the forehead touches the ground or the mat. Lay your arms at the sides of the body with palms facing upwards. Deep breathe with eyes closed. This child-like resting position is a great relief to the body and mind under times of stress.

Bridge pose: With your feet on the mat, bend your knees and lift your hips forming a bridge. Rest your arms at the side with palms up and deep breathe. This posture re-energizes your body and you will feel stronger and more energetic to face the world.

Corpse pose: This is the most important pose that helps the body in soaking all the benefits of the yogic practice. Let your feet fall loose while lying on your back, arms by your sides and eyes closed. While breathing deeply, concentrate on your toes and feel the tension releasing from there. Gradually, move to the head by relaxing each part of your body and keep lying for a few minutes to enjoy the serenity. This also, helps in flushing out the body’s toxins and revives the system.

These are just a few asanas to give you a start. Practice yoga regularly and advance to higher levels to attain permanent peace of mind