Therapeutic Yoga for Stress Relief, Anxiety and Depression

As one who deals with stress on a frequent basis, I know firsthand some of the things that can help ease the symptoms of stress and relax the mind and body. In addition to running a large household and having a variety of other responsibilities, I also have a heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP. One of the symptoms of MVP happens to be anxiety. MVP can cause stress and stress can also worsen it. For some, it ends up being a circle of anxiety over and over.

But, I learned early on that it doesn't have to be. Through trial and error of many different ideas I had, as well as learned about from other people, books, doctors, and more, I learned quite a bit about stress. Yoga is one form of therapy that I found to relieve my stress, as well as keep it at bay, if done on a regular basis. While I do not suffer from depression, I also learned through my yoga research that yoga is great for depression because stress and depression sometimes go hand in hand and often cause similar symptoms.

Stress can be detrimental to the body, as can depression. In fact, stress and depression can lead to many symptoms that can affect a person's overall quality of life. To name a few, stress can cause headaches, stomach aches, depression, fatigue, loss or gain of appetite, weight gain, weight loss, and it can also worsen a number of diseases and conditions. Depression has many of the same effects as stress. Neither are good for the mind or the body.

Deep breathing is a therapeutic technique doctors have recommended a number of times to combat stress, depression, and anxiety. Exercise is another, as it produces adrenalin, which can have a positive affect on a person's mood. Being that yoga combines both, it makes sense why it is used as a therapeutic choice for relieving stress, anxiety, and mild depression. In fact, my doctors always recommended yoga as a therapeutic treatment.

Asana poses are great as a therapeutic yoga treatment for stress and depression relief, as are a variety of other poses. The Savasana pose, also referred to as the Mrtasana, calms the brain, relieves stress, relieves mild depression, reduces headaches, and helps relieve fatigue and insomnia.

Other therapeutic Asana yoga poses recommended for stress relief, anxiety and depression are Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose), Balasana (Child's Pose), Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), Bitilasana (Cow Pose), Sukhasana (Easy Pose), and Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose). Other recommended therapeutic yoga poses are Anjali Mudra (Salutation Seal), Dolphin Pose, and Dolphin Plank Pose. Detailed instructions and benefits for all of these poses and more can be found at YogaJournal.comYogaJournal.com. For more information onMedicineNetsit MedicineNet.com.

Note: exercise), always consult with a licensed medical professional.

Sources:

(1) Personal Experience

(2) MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/stress/article.htm

(3) Yoga Journal
http://www.yogajournal.com

2) MedicineNet.comtent
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/332619/what_is_mitral_valve_prolapse.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/332623/living_with_mitral_valve_prolapse.html