Yoga Tips for Anxiety

Anxiety is a common issue in many people. It can be daunting but there are little things you can do to help both in the short and the long run.

Here are some things I find helpful when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

Abdominal Breathing

When we’re anxious we take short, shallow breaths through our chest.
However the lower part of our lungs is responsible for the majority of our oxygen intake, so breathing through the chest means not enough oxygen in our bloodstream!
This leads to tiredness, impaired thinking, altered moods, and can stir up anxiety and depression.
So sit with your spine straight or lay down, bring one hand on your stomach and one on your chest. Take slow, deep breaths through your nose, and try to shift your breathing to your stomach. The hand on your chest should be barely moving. This will help lower your heart rate and oxygenate your body.

Guided Meditation

Meditation is one of the best tools to deal with anxiety and deal with our emotions. A Guided Meditation is the easiest to go through, you can easily find one online. Just 10 minutes can make a big difference.

Nature Sounds

Rain, ocean waves, forest sounds… These sounds are very even and have a pleasant pitch, which makes us feel safe and reduce our fight-or-flight response.

Take a Walk

Walking is a cardiovascular activity and as such it boosts the production of endorphins, which reduce stress. Again, something as little as 10 minutes can be helpful.

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is also called Yogic Sleep. These deeply relaxing sessions include body-scans and visualisation. This mimics REM sleep. Being sleep deprived has a noticeable effect on our ability to cope with emotional events and our moods in general. And guess what? Most people tend to be sleep-deprived, especially when suffering from anxiety!

Find an Outlet

Journaling, painting, playing an instrument, writing, sculpting, knitting, photography, woodturning, sewing, baking, origami, colouring books, make-up, pottery, scrapbooking, candle-making… Find a creative outlet that allows you to focus on something and express yourself without judgement.

Give these a try and let me know what you think!

I’m also curious to know, what are your methods for coping with anxiety?