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Being a psychiatrist today often entails long hours immersed in charts or on computers, a lack of fresh air, and eating meals in a hurry. Being on call, facing deadline pressures, and juggling multiple responsibilities can lead to fatigue, frustration, and a lack of adequate socialization. These circumstances can take their toll on us in unpleasant and unhealthy ways, resulting in exhaustion, illness, an
What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. It was introduced to the West in the 19th century. Yoga is a holistic lifestyle of well-being that includes physical and meditative practices. Today, the most popular forms of yoga typically incorporate a combination of physical postures, controlled breathing, deep relaxation, and/or meditation.2
How to begin yoga practice
Start slow and simple.
- develop balance, endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination
- release chronic muscular tension
- rejuvenate the body.
Explore different schools. Over time, numerous schools of yoga have evolved. They vary from gentle to strenuous, with an emphasis on postures, breath work, meditation, singing, or a combination of these skills. Choose what feels good and safe based on your personal preference and physical ability.
Be mindful. Focusing solely on the present moment calms the mind and increases awareness. Meditative practice can sharpen clarity and focus. Meditation can involve focusing your attention on sounds, images, or inspirational words or phrases. Each of our movements can invite self-respect and further awareness of the daily toll that modern life places on our minds and bodies. Active breath work is believed to cultivate vitality. Calm breath work and meditative practices help still the mind and decrease physiologic overarousal.
Stay consistent. Regardless of your physical ability or level of mobility, consistent yoga practice is necessary to realize its benefits. Therefore, a weekly class may be a good way to start. Eventually, a good goal is to practice twice a day, at dawn and dusk.
Appreciate the experience. Immerse yourself in each moment of yoga practice. There is no need to rush. Enjoy your journey!
1. Harvard Mental Health Letter. Yoga for anxiety and depression. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression. Updated September 18, 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017.
2. Balasubramaniam M, Telles S, Doraiswamy PM. Yoga on our minds: a systematic review of yoga for neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Psychiatry. 2013;3:117. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00117.
Being a psychiatrist today often entails long hours immersed in charts or on computers, a lack of fresh air, and eating meals in a hurry. Being on call, facing deadline pressures, and juggling multiple responsibilities can lead to fatigue, frustration, and a lack of adequate socialization. These circumstances can take their toll on us in unpleasant and unhealthy ways, resulting in exhaustion, illness, an
What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. It was introduced to the West in the 19th century. Yoga is a holistic lifestyle of well-being that includes physical and meditative practices. Today, the most popular forms of yoga typically incorporate a combination of physical postures, controlled breathing, deep relaxation, and/or meditation.2
How to begin yoga practice
Start slow and simple.
- develop balance, endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination
- release chronic muscular tension
- rejuvenate the body.
Explore different schools. Over time, numerous schools of yoga have evolved. They vary from gentle to strenuous, with an emphasis on postures, breath work, meditation, singing, or a combination of these skills. Choose what feels good and safe based on your personal preference and physical ability.
Be mindful. Focusing solely on the present moment calms the mind and increases awareness. Meditative practice can sharpen clarity and focus. Meditation can involve focusing your attention on sounds, images, or inspirational words or phrases. Each of our movements can invite self-respect and further awareness of the daily toll that modern life places on our minds and bodies. Active breath work is believed to cultivate vitality. Calm breath work and meditative practices help still the mind and decrease physiologic overarousal.
Stay consistent. Regardless of your physical ability or level of mobility, consistent yoga practice is necessary to realize its benefits. Therefore, a weekly class may be a good way to start. Eventually, a good goal is to practice twice a day, at dawn and dusk.
Appreciate the experience. Immerse yourself in each moment of yoga practice. There is no need to rush. Enjoy your journey!
Being a psychiatrist today often entails long hours immersed in charts or on computers, a lack of fresh air, and eating meals in a hurry. Being on call, facing deadline pressures, and juggling multiple responsibilities can lead to fatigue, frustration, and a lack of adequate socialization. These circumstances can take their toll on us in unpleasant and unhealthy ways, resulting in exhaustion, illness, an
What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India thousands of years ago. It was introduced to the West in the 19th century. Yoga is a holistic lifestyle of well-being that includes physical and meditative practices. Today, the most popular forms of yoga typically incorporate a combination of physical postures, controlled breathing, deep relaxation, and/or meditation.2
How to begin yoga practice
Start slow and simple.
- develop balance, endurance, strength, flexibility, and coordination
- release chronic muscular tension
- rejuvenate the body.
Explore different schools. Over time, numerous schools of yoga have evolved. They vary from gentle to strenuous, with an emphasis on postures, breath work, meditation, singing, or a combination of these skills. Choose what feels good and safe based on your personal preference and physical ability.
Be mindful. Focusing solely on the present moment calms the mind and increases awareness. Meditative practice can sharpen clarity and focus. Meditation can involve focusing your attention on sounds, images, or inspirational words or phrases. Each of our movements can invite self-respect and further awareness of the daily toll that modern life places on our minds and bodies. Active breath work is believed to cultivate vitality. Calm breath work and meditative practices help still the mind and decrease physiologic overarousal.
Stay consistent. Regardless of your physical ability or level of mobility, consistent yoga practice is necessary to realize its benefits. Therefore, a weekly class may be a good way to start. Eventually, a good goal is to practice twice a day, at dawn and dusk.
Appreciate the experience. Immerse yourself in each moment of yoga practice. There is no need to rush. Enjoy your journey!
1. Harvard Mental Health Letter. Yoga for anxiety and depression. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression. Updated September 18, 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017.
2. Balasubramaniam M, Telles S, Doraiswamy PM. Yoga on our minds: a systematic review of yoga for neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Psychiatry. 2013;3:117. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00117.
1. Harvard Mental Health Letter. Yoga for anxiety and depression. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression. Updated September 18, 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017.
2. Balasubramaniam M, Telles S, Doraiswamy PM. Yoga on our minds: a systematic review of yoga for neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Psychiatry. 2013;3:117. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00117.
