Yoga for seasonal affective disorder

It’s blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year. But don’t let winter get you down!
​A

regular yoga practice can provide

a natural form of relief to ease the symptoms of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

Try the following three practices daily to help lift your mood and banish winter blues: - Sukhasana (the easy pose) – will help to clear the mind. Sit with the ankles crossed and a straight spine. Take your time to breathe slowly in and out through your nose. Close your eyes and focus on your breath entering and leaving your body. After a while count in your mind both inhale and exhale and work to keep them the same duration. Majaryasana (the cat) – will increase energy levels when you’re suffering seasonal affective disorder.

Begin on all fours, the hands are under your shoulders and the knees are under your hips. Exhale and look through your legs, rounding your spine up towards the ceiling and pulling the navel towards your spine. As you inhale reverse the movement so that you tilt your pelvis up and lift your chest and head. Continue to roll through these two positions coordinating your breath and movement for ten or more complete breaths. Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog) – will make sure that plenty of oxygenated blood is sent to the brain, helping to get rid of winter blues:

Begin on all fours, curl under your toes and unfold your legs to create a triangular shape with your body and the floor. Keep the shoulders relaxed and the neck in line with the spine. Hold for 5 complete breaths repeat three times.

Further Considerations

Starting

the day with a sun salutation is extremely beneficial. Laughter Yoga will also increase that feel good factor. A class is available to download from www.wellbeingworldonline

for £9.99 (for 25% off this class please enter LY25).

Sue Fuller has created over 40 audio yoga classes that retailed worldwide and is the founder of yoga2hear.co.uk