Understanding Depression
Today, depression is becoming a common challenge for people of every age, all around the globe. In spite of climbing the rungs of the so-called development, many people suffer from this constant phase of feeling low. The causes of depression are often unexplained and it goes unnoticed, at least till the time, one shows mild symptoms. Only during a critical stage of depression, when one starts getting suicidal thoughts, we usually begin to take it more seriously. A less critical stage is when one lacks the enthusiasm to do anything in life, the basic daily routine also begins to feel heavy and one starts avoiding social interactions. This is the time when one needs to take the condition seriously and seek medical help as required.
Before depression reaches such a stage, there will be milder symptoms like not enjoying an activity one enjoyed before, trying to avoid certain social situations, not feeling like self-care, and grooming. These are milder symptoms and with little awareness, can be handled with minor changes in lifestyle or sometimes, simply a chat with a trusted mentor or friend. We all go through these phases where a little tweak in our perspective or attitude can fix our moods.
It is true that depression can happen to anyone at any time. Just like any other disease of the body, we can also try to prevent the diseases of the mind. By applying the disciplines of yoga to the body as well as the mind, we can definitely lead emotionally healthier lives. It is also true that with some lifestyle practices, depression can not only be avoided but in most cases, get cured. It may not always be a replacement for medical treatment but it surely is a strong supplement. Just like an antiviral medication gains popularity after a virus is spread, similarly and fortunately for us, the ancient science and art of yoga are also gaining popularity around the world.
Understanding Yoga
Most of us understand yoga as a physical activity that requires a lot of flexibility and little strength. Some of us also know about the breathwork that claims to heal people of multiple health disorders. In reality, this is only a limited view of yoga. Yoga goes beyond asanas and pranayamas and even beyond the body. Though yoga is a very personal or customized way of life and everyone can define it in their own way, there are a few popular definitions of yoga.
The Bhagavad Gita, an ancient holy scripture of India says ‘Samatvam Yog Uchyate’ which means yoga is that which brings equanimity. It is a common understanding that everyone’s life has ups and downs. It is interesting to observe that the ups and downs can come in the form of external events or situations without disturbing the being emotional. Regular practice of yoga can take us closer to this goal. Slowly, we can reach a state where we are immune to praises or insults, successes or failures, enjoying every moment of life and growing through it. This state of mind is still full of enthusiasm but does not have over-excitement and unrealistic expectations. Inculcating these qualities in our life can definitely help us prevent depression.
We often get caught in a chain of thoughts, where we even imagine scenarios that do not exist or have a low chance of manifesting. There is gameplay of emotions and thought patterns that constantly keeps us engaged. ‘Yoga chitta vritti nirodha’ means that yoga is that which can restrain the thought waves. Sometimes, simply giving rest to the constant activity of the mind can make us feel better instantly. With the regular practice of yoga, this becomes our second nature. We become aware and start differentiating between the thinking which is required for action and the useless chatter that goes on in the head.
Another popular definition is ‘yogah karmasu kaushalam’ which means yoga is skill in action. We all face different situations in life – some favorable, some unfavorable. Yoga can help a great deal in dealing with a situation with skill, making use of the best possible action now, when one is already in a situation. With time, intuitive abilities also start developing and one starts making better decisions and also starts being prepared for the consequences, at least mentally. This is one practical benefit of yoga that can be applied to everyday life. No matter what we do at home, at work, in personal and professional relationships, everything calls for skills. Be it soft skills like communication or negotiation or basic life skills like cooking and organizing your closet, yoga can make you more efficient.
Physical and Mental Disciplines
As one gets a chance to go deep into the philosophy of yoga, there are some basic disciplines that are recommended for every yoga practitioner to follow. The physical disciplines include physical hygiene and practice of yoga asanas and pranayamas until one gets mastery over them. Not just that, keeping the senses under control is also an essential skill that a yoga practitioner can develop with time. The mental disciplines are those which guide us to keep our minds pure and free of negative thoughts and emotions. We learn how to deal with grief, hatred, jealousy, greed, anger, and other such hurtful feelings. We take time to understand ourselves and contentment starts blossoming in us. Following all these disciplines of yoga is a sure shot way to keep depression at bay. It can be a very interesting journey for someone who is going through depression. Understanding such deep wisdom can not only help you but also make you capable of helping others.
What Goes On Internally
Quite often, people suffering from a long-time disease or an undetected health challenge also face depression. As we start living a yogic lifestyle, our physical health begins to improve. We need not know the cause of our problems but we start feeling fresh, active, and enthusiastic day by day. There is a scientific reason behind this. As we practice the different asanas and pranayamas, our internal organs gain strength and begin to function optimally. Many challenges are taken care of even before they start showing symptoms externally. It is amazing how every practice that we do has more than one benefit and multiple positive side effects.
Improved Levels of Happy Hormones
Any type of physical activity helps in improving the level of serotonin hormone and we feel good. Many antidepressants contain this serotonin that creates a feeling of happiness and well-being for a limited time. Instead of popping these pills, even a mild physical activity like yoga can change the way you feel by improving your serotonin levels at any point in time. Yoga is free of cost and can be practiced anywhere without any negative side effects. Deep breathing and meditation improve another happy hormone called dopamine. When we practice yoga, our body thanks us for it. With improved relationship skills and enhanced self-love and self-care routine, our oxytocin levels rise too. This creates an upward spiral and we continue to move towards positivity. There are many scientific types of research that indicate the same and of course, these benefits can be felt almost immediately by the practitioners.
Looking Inward and Letting Go
Many of us wouldn’t know that there is an entire branch of yoga called bhakti-yoga. It focuses more on the mind and emotions and emphasizes on the practice of surrender. Irrespective of which religion we are born into, it makes sense to believe in a power greater than us. Knowing that, with some faith and emotions of the love for the divine, a blissful state can be achieved. Faith gives us strength and security – feelings that come in handy when we face trauma in life. Meditation helps us connect to ourselves and understand ourselves better. Once we are able to witness completely whatever is going on in our mind, we can select useful thoughts and let go of the rest. This process helps us in keeping our minds clear and emotions stable. It is very much like talking to a friend or even a therapist, where you begin to understand a problem just by speaking about it.
Getting Your Life Back in Order
Yogic practices whether done at the physical or mental level, have the capacity to heal our emotional wounds. It can help us get better physically and it can help us get rid of thoughts that are unhelpful. Such is the power of yoga. These benefits can be reaped with the blessings of a Guru, with respect and sincerity towards following the teachings of yoga. There are many changes that happen at a very subtle level and change the way we think or feel just within a few minutes. The energy trapped in the wrong places gets released and with a healthy flow of this energy, we can achieve harmony between the mind, body, and soul. Don’t mistake it for a mere physical activity, yoga is a lifesaver, especially for issues like depression.
