Feeling Worried and Stressed? How to Use Kundalini Yoga for Anxiety
“Don’t think and worry, nothing will happen. You may worry a million times—worry makes you worry more. Worry is an ingrown self-conflicting process of life which is endless.”
Around 4% of the global population are affected by anxiety, according to international statistics. Moreover, around 970 million people have a mental or substance use disorder. The modern world is fraught with distractions from social media to busy work schedules. It’s no wonder that so many of us find it difficult to switch off and relax. When you’re struggling to manage this problem, it can impact every area of your lifestyle.
While it’s a sensitive topic for many of us, there are small yet significant ways you can change your mindset. The practice of Kundalini Yoga focuses on relaxing the mind, becoming at one with yourself, and learning to let go of external worries and stresses. Using the methods of this form of yoga can help you to release feelings of anxiety.
If you’re ready to get started and take control of your mental state, using yogic approaches could be the answer you’ve been looking for. Within this guide, we will look at some of the ways in which you can use Kundalini Yoga for anxiety. Here’s what you need to know.
Research into Kundalini Yoga for Anxiety
“Celestial Communication relaxes the ten parts of the brain through the nerve connections of the tips of the fingers. The tension of the nerve pattern is revealed into a relaxation pattern.”
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common issue that affects millions of people around the world. If you’re coping with this form of anxiety, you may find that you worry excessively, that you are edgy, and that you’re irritable. Other symptoms of this condition include headaches, bouts of insomnia, sweating, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
As you embark on your journey into the realms of Kundalini Yoga, your practice can help you manage this condition. There’s a wealth of research to suggest that mindful activities, such as yoga and meditation, can help to calm your mind and manage the symptoms of this condition. With that in mind, let’s take a moment to look at the research in this area.
Practicing for 10 weeks lowers anxiety
Research published in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine Journal suggests that practicing yoga for 10 weeks lowers your levels of stress and anxiety. The study found that this technique was as effective as relaxation when it came to improving people’s overall mental health. Participants who took part in this particular scored higher for mental wellness after they had undertaken the yoga practice.
Therapy and yoga can work together
It’s widely accepted that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help to ease feelings of anxiety. The process trains your brain to be more positive and respond well to stressful situations. Experts, Manjit Kaur Khalsa and Dr. Greiner-Ferris, have published a book on the topic called The Yoga-CBT Workbook. The guide shows people how to combine their daily yoga practice with the core principles of CBT and, in effect, lower their anxiety.
Yoga reduces stress response
Information from Harvard University suggests that yoga can be a natural form of anxiety relief. Since Kundalini Yoga and other practices can work as a self-soothing technique, the researchers claim that they can help to relieve a person’s natural response to stress and anxiety. While there are many forms of medication that can help you to reduce your stress levels, you can use yoga and meditation as a holistic treatment.
As you can see, the growing body of research suggests that practices, such as Kundalini Yoga, could make a significant difference in how you feel. It’s important to remember that everyone is different and each of us is following our pathway. For that reason, you need to figure out which techniques and forms of treatments help support your mental health.
How to Enter Deep Relaxation
“You are only free when you are above time and space. When you are afraid of what will happen tomorrow, you are not living. You are just dragging. That is how it is.”
Coping with feelings of stress and anxiety can be strikingly difficult. Luckily, there are many kriyas in Kundalini Yoga that will help you with this issue. Moreover, you can also use a deep relaxation technique after you’ve finished your sessions. Doing so will aid you in entering a state of calm and serenity. To get started with this practice, follow these steps:
- Start by getting comfortable. You can cover yourself with a blanket to keep you warm.
- You can also put a mat or blanket on the floor. Lie down with your arms at your sides.
- Uncross your legs, keep your palms facing upward, and close your eyes.
- Take some deep, natural breaths. Allow your stomach muscles to relax.
- Mentally release any tension that you have. Accept that you have done all you can and allow your mind to rest for a moment. Be at peace.
- Allow your mind to move up through your body — starting from your feet. As you pass each part of your body, give it permission to relax and unwind.
- As you focus on this aspect of relaxation, mentally tell each part of your body to ‘relax’, ‘release’ or say ‘Sat Nam’ as you do so.
- You will feel your body completely relax and your mind rest. Maintain this state for as long as you need, depending on the time you have.
Tip: You can practice this form of relaxation in complete silence. However, some people find that it’s easier to unwind while listening to calming sounds.
Start your journey today!
Do you want to take control and start managing your anxiety levels? If so, you can use the methods of Kundalini Yoga to help you along the way. Take the time to learn more about your practice and follow the teachings of this form of yoga. The more you learn about the yogic lifestyle, the better equipped you will be to ease your mind and relax fully.
See also: The Ten Bodies of Kundalini Yoga – And What They Really Mean
