yoga for anxiety Archives - Running in Triangles

Practical Tips to Practice Mindfulness and Self-Care

It’s no secret that stress can take a toll on our mental and physical health. It’s been called a “silent killer.” But what many people don’t realize is that there are simple things we can do to help reduce stress and improve our overall well-being. In this article, we’ll share some practical tips on practicing mindfulness and self-care.

Practical Ways to Practice Mindfulness and Self-Care — *This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that we only recommend products that we love from companies that we trust. Furthermore, we are not medical professionals and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Make time for yourself every day

Making time for yourself should be a priority, not an afterthought. To lead a happy and fulfilling life, it’s important to nurture your mind, body, and soul daily. Luckily, there are many small things you can do to show yourself some love. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day to do something that makes you happy. This might be reading a book, taking a brisk walk outdoors, or listening to your favorite album.

Make sure to schedule this “me time” into your calendar so that you don’t let other obligations get in the way. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself! If you make a mistake, cut yourself some slack and know that you’re only human.

Connect with nature

One of the best ways to practice mindfulness and self-care is to connect with nature. There are several ways to do this, but one of the simplest is to take a walk in the park or the woods. As you walk, take time to notice the sights and sounds around you. Leave your phone and any other electronic devices at home to focus on your surroundings.

You might also want to try sitting outside for a few minutes each day or even just taking a break from work to go for a walk during your lunch hour. By taking the time to appreciate the natural world around you, you can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.

Invest in things that make you happy

A lot of people believe that self-care is a selfish act. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Practicing self-care is one of the most important things you can do for yourself, and it does not have to be expensive or time-consuming. One simple way to practice self-care is to invest in things that make you happy. This could be anything from a new book to a piece of jewelry or even a coffee machine with a built-in milk frother.

The key is to choose something that brings you joy and makes you feel good about yourself. Another way to practice self-care is to take some time for yourself each day. This could be anything from taking a bath to going for a walk. The important thing is to do something that you enjoy, which helps you relax.

Practice yoga or meditation

A regular yoga or meditation practice can be extremely helpful in promoting mindfulness and self-care. Yoga helps to stretch and strengthen the body while also promoting relaxation. On the other hand, meditation provides a chance to focus on the breath and quiet the mind. Both yoga and meditation can be practiced virtually anywhere, making them accessible to everyone. In addition, there are many different types of yoga and meditation practices available, so it’s easy to find one that suits your needs and preferences.

However, it’s important to remember that even a short yoga or meditation practice can benefit. If you don’t have time for a full class, simply taking a few minutes to sit quietly or do some gentle stretches can help you feel more centered and present. By making time for a regular yoga or meditation practice, you’ll be well on your way to incorporating more mindfulness and self-care into your life.

Listen to calming music

When it comes to mindfulness and self-care, there are a variety of things that you can do to help yourself relax and de-stress. One of the simplest and most effective things you can do is listen to calming music. Whether it’s classical music, jazz, or even just gentle background music, listening to calming music can help to slow down your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and ease anxiety and stress.

In addition, listening to music can also help to boost your mood, increase feelings of well-being, and promote relaxation. So next time you’re feeling stressed, try putting on some calm music and see how it affects you. You may be surprised at how quickly it helps you to feel better.

Final Thoughts

Mindfulness and self-care are two of the most important things you can do for yourself. By practicing mindfulness and self-care, you can reduce stress, improve overall well-being, and feel more centered and at peace. There are many different ways to practice mindfulness and self-care, so find what works best for you and make it a part of your daily routine. And remember, even a little bit of mindfulness and self-care can go a long way.

5 Activities That Will Help You Overcome Anxiety at Home

If you have ever been in a situation where you were anticipating giving a speech or running a meeting for the first time, you probably know what anxiety is all about. Characterized by unexplained feelings of tension, worry, and restlessness, anxiety is a common emotion that sometimes develops into a mental disorder. You can manage light levels of anxiety pretty easily without the need for in-depth medical attention. In fact, only about 36% of people who live with anxiety as a mental disorder receive medical intervention. Here are a few activities you can do to help you overcome anxiety from home.

Take Control of Your Breathing

Yoga as an industry has grown tremendously over the past decades due to its healing properties. As far as anxiety goes, specific easy yoga techniques provide a sense of relaxation and soothing. Particularly taking charge of your breathing and being lost in the moment will connect you to your subconscious and facilitate a self-awareness that will calm you down, helping you to overcome anxiety. Try to use the following bulleted guidelines when attempting to command your breathing:

- Assume a comfortable position and inhale through your nose.
- Involve your abdomen as you inhale.
- Exhale through your mouth with lips angled like you are whistling.
- Your exhalation should be longer than inhalation.

7 Reasons Why It's Hard to Control Your COVID Anxiety — .

Consider Using Supplements

Modern supplements can help beat anxiety without causing unwanted side effects. They achieve this by offering a sense of relaxation and boosting energy levels that will enable you to perform beneficial physical activities. There are many over-the-counter supplements such as kava, chamomile, lavender, kratom concentrates, and lemon balm. They are consumable in all kinds of forms, such as:

- Powders
- Pills
- Liquid extracts
- Additives for your tea

The use of CBD oil and medical marijuana in general to treat various medical conditions, including anxiety, has been on a constant rise in recent years. Individuals often testify to its healing properties, so be sure to check a cannabis dosing guide.

Some supplements are potentially invasive, so be sure to check with your doctor before using supplements, especially if you are on any prescriptions.

Essential Oils for Depression and Anxiety 1 — .

Blow Some Bubbles

This sounds like just a childish game, but surprisingly, it works! Sometimes it is the little things that make a difference. The technicality involved in blowing bubbles helps the mind focus and steer off destructive emotions, not to mention the satisfaction of watching the actual bubbles. Besides, blowing bubbles is synonymous with breathing control. The constant drawing of air from deep inside your body will open the air pipes and chest; your lungs will have more fresh air, which is beneficial for the mind.

Sing and Dance to Your Favorite Songs

Remember how they say that everyone sings like Beyonce in the bathroom? Well, it is reasonable enough to extend the talent for self-treatment. There is something about music that makes it therapeutic for a lot of us, which is why even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, artists still perform from living rooms or balconies and gather millions of viewers. The next time you feel anxious, try dancing or singing along to your favorite jam, and that could be just the healing you need.

Go for a Walk With Your Pet

Walking is one of the most underrated anxiety control methods. It reconnects you with nature, allowing you to interact with all sorts of life, from trees to wildlife. The chirping of birds, falling leaves, or butterflies flying around can help relax your mind. And what’s better than enjoying this with the company of your pet? Nature and the unconditional love that your dog has for you could be the answer to managing your stress and anxiety. If your locality is boring or makes you anxious, try a place where you are less known, and if possible, a luxurious neighborhood that will trigger a sense of amazement.

Anxiety can be detrimental to your health and productivity both at home and at work. From spending time with nature, dancing, to doing yoga, there are many ways to fight the mental condition. Even medical marijuana is an option preferred by many in the modern world. In order to overcome anxiety, take your time to discover what works best for you and practice it every time you feel anxiety setting in.

Author Bio

Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness. Follow her on Instagram.

The Amazing Benefits of Yoga for Postpartum Depression

Yoga is known for it’s amazing mood boosting and stress reducing benefits.

Using yoga for postpartum depression can help to improve your overall mood and well-being. Adding yoga into a regular self-care routine is a simple change that can make a big difference. Since it is a low-impact way to exercise, it can be safe for mothers who are pregnant or recovering from childbirth. It’s also a great exercise to do with children or babies around because they love to watch and sometimes even follow along.

In this guest post from Meera Watts of SiddhiYoga.com, you can learn about all the amazing benefits of yoga for postpartum depression.

There are a variety of benefits yoga has displayed. It has been used for centuries for good reason. Instead of using prescription medications, there was the development of yoga to manage physical and mental problems. So it is that yoga can help us in the modern world with depression, stress, and mindfulness, because maintaining good mental health should always be a priority.

You are more prone to nurturing yourself when you create body awareness and of course mind awareness. You won’t beat yourself up anymore and let your ego dictate how you’ll feel. Yoga is a deeply grounding practice that brings out your truths. As your heart opens more and you learn about who you really are, you’ll have a profound sense of self. This can only create a place of self-love.

Here are the benefits of yoga for postpartum depression that you might not know about.

• Reduction of the impact of stress in your daily life.
• Assists with anxiety and depression.
• Teaches you to self-soothe yourself with techniques like meditation, relaxation, and through the exercise aspect of the practice.
• Energy is improved.

Yoga and Depression

The physical things in yoga will have your body moving in all sorts of directions. You get a gentle workout, a core workout, and learn to breathe properly. Then, you’ll do meditation. Yoga teaches you a lot and taps into your mind, body and soul. It can be helpful with depression and the symptoms. For example, yoga helps you to concentrate and helps you with your energy levels. These are common problems of depression that are solved through yoga.

Yoga helps you to manage any mental and emotional problems you’re dealing with. Conditions and disorders that can lead to depression such as chronic pain can be relieved.

Improve Your Mood

The reason we experience things like depression and anxiety is due to unbalanced levels of certain chemicals in the brain. Serotonin is something that makes us happy and gives us energy. When we don’t have enough, we can feel down. Yoga naturally helps to increase serotonin levels. Yoga is gentle so even if a person does feel low, they can go to a class and get the nurturing benefits. The fluid nature of the moves you do can evoke a nice feeling. As your body moves, you become more conscious of that, instead of how you feel emotionally.

Warrior poses can make you feel powerful. That is not a feeling that someone with depression usually feels. You will also concentrate on your breathing which can bring you more energy.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

Yoga works to increase your heart rate. Through breathing and encouraging blood to flow better with poses, it can change time between heartbeats. The relaxation response will dominate over the stress response in the body. The body gets better at monitoring itself and fighting against stress. It also reduces levels of cortisol that are released in the body. When you do get anxious, you cause the body to overproduce this chemical. When you have too much in the body, it can cause damage to the mind and body.

Yoga lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier to breathe. When you learn how to do deep breathing in yoga, you can immediately relax yourself. You also increase your pain tolerance by reducing stress. Stress has been shown to lower your pain tolerance.

Everything You Need to Know About Postpartum Anxiety — .

Yoga and Mindfulness

A big part of yoga is learning to be mindful. This is the key to solve any negative feelings you have. As you learn to just observe the ego mind instead of going down to its level, you can manage any storm. It is the ego that says you’re not good enough, that you can’t do something, or that there’s something to worry about.

Almost nothing it tells you has any true purpose and it can lead you to feel extremely angry, sad, anxious, or afraid. The funny thing is, the ego is basing it’s reality on your past situations. Say you’re triggered by a smell, this is the ego searching for an experience that occurred with a relate-able scent. If the memory is a good one, you feel happy. If it’s a bad memory, it can make you feel instantly terrible.

Meditation Tips for People Who Hate to Meditate — .

Mindfulness is being aware of the emotional pain or the physical pain that manifests in you when these things happen. You may not be able to remember what happened when you were five that created sadness from a smell. You can scan your body and be aware of what the brain is saying.

Even just witnessing your thoughts can calm the rest of your body down. Your ego doesn’t have a chance to berate you. When you’re kinder to yourself, you are less likely to do things like emotionally eat or get angry at people who don’t deserve it.

Medical studies and scientific research say that meditation and mindfulness has neurological benefits.

Yoga works on the body and through the breath to create a centered mind within you. Stress is decreased and so is depression. You will experience a higher quality of life with that open heart you’ve created. Then you’re not prone to fear and self-doubt.

Meera Watts is a yoga teacher, entrepreneur and mom. Her writing on yoga and holistic health has appeared in Elephant Journal, CureJoy, FunTimesGuide, OMtimes and others. She’s also the founder and owner of SiddhiYoga.com, a yoga teacher training school based in Singapore. Siddhi Yoga runs intensive, residential trainings in India (Rishikesh and Dharamshala) and Indonesia (Bali).

For more information, view her website at www.siddhiyoga.com and follow her on social media.