Here’s how you can use yoga to become emotionally stronger

Yoga is transformational in nature and has the power to change you. By practising yoga, you can impact the human body, mind, and spirit. Just like how a plant needs proper sunlight, water, healthy soil, and fertilizer in order to grow—we need yoga, meditation, and mindfulness exercises. We are ever-evolving with yoga and spiritual practices that help us to cultivate positivity in our lives. 

Yoga asanas for the mind and body

Yoga postures not only work on the physical aspects of strength, stamina, and flexibility—but also shape the mind. Yoga asanas are the way to test the will and endurance of the practitioners. It is not easy to stay in a pose for long and so this builds patience and determination. During the practice of challenging asanas, you may be tempted to quit the pose because it’s uncomfortable or because it brings up difficult emotions that you cannot handle. In this way, yoga asanas teaches one acceptance needed to handle tough situations. 

The power of self-talk

The practice of self-talk is considered as a therapeutic activity that is beneficial for both the mind and body. This is a practice that encourages you towards introspection. When you learn to have a conversation with yourself, it helps you search your mind for solutions.

Pranayama to regulate emotions

Through pranayama or breathing exercises and meditation, you can slowly begin to understand how the breath is the controller of your emotions. These techniques train you to observe your breathing.  Have you ever noticed your breath when you are stressed, in a state of anger, nervousness or anxiety? You will find that your breathing is laboured, fast, hard, erratic, or shallow during unpleasant situations. Yoga through its various practices connects you with your breath—thus giving you the power to choose how you respond. 

Yoga also builds awareness 

Mindfulness can be cultivated by connecting with your breath. This teaches awareness which is a very useful tool for people who struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. When you bring your focus on something tangible like your pose, your breath or on a mantra, it can have a very calming effect on the mind.

Effective yoga techniques for good mental health 

Meditation techniques like swaas dhyan and sthithi dhyan allow you to gradually become an observer of your flow of thoughts. By learning not to resist them and by letting them flow instead, you can achieve calmness. 

Pranayama exercises like bhramari pranayama and anulom vilom, you can keep your awareness on your breathing until you reach a point where your complete focus is on your inhalation and exhalation with your mind almost completely devoid of thoughts. 

Yoga lets you explore more wholesome ways to respond to negative emotions. Start your daily routine with a combination of asanas, pranayama, meditation and chanting.  This will take care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation, Chandra Namaskar or Moon Salutation can also be included in this. All you need is an investment of minimum 15 minutes a day to centre yourself, and find that emotional balance required for living joyously.

Yoga is the ancient and holistic science of wellness that lets you tap into your own strength and potential. This allows for more organic and productive ways to find comfort for the mind and the body. Stress, anxiety and depression have now become a common part of our living. Yoga is the tool that can help you cope with life’s hard struggles with ease, and remain optimistic.