Yoga and Depression. My experience….
For years I had severe depression swings, especially from a couple of years before I wrote Trickster until right before Zerospace. Symbolic when i think about Trickster was about digging up the dirt, and Zerospace was about balance. (Why I was having these episodes had to deal with … not ‘dealing’ .. but that’s beside the point…)
I had first discovered Kundalini mediation, which kept me at ease, but it seemed like it wasn’t exactly enough for me (i.e., 'sitting there.’) I had a good friend, a Kung Fu practitioner explain to me that I needed to “move my stagnant chi around, get it out and i will feel better.” He equated it to 'grey dust’ sitting there in my body and internal organs.
He took me to a yoga class at our gym. I couldn’t believe (and you don’t know until you do it) how balanced, open i felt - it was like a beautiful drug.
I started doing it more and more and noticed that I became depressed less and less, and this 'alone time’ and meditation with my practice kept revealing more things about myself, things i needed to process or learn or let go.
I attribute my 14 year practice to me not feeling 'on edge,’ being able to deal with life in a clear manner (no sweating the small stuff or drama), and depression has not been an “issue” since.
we are sensitive beings and the world and our lives can be harsh. dealing from the inside first is the biggest compassionate arsenal you can build.
having the perfect “warrior pose” or backbend doesn’t make you more enlightened than another person. it’s not about “if you can do the poses.” it’s about being aligned and breathing. the poses will come.
I encourage you to just try it. If yoga classes aren’t in your budget, there are some free streaming classes on Hulu. Some of my favorite teachers are Russell Simmons yoga DVD (I’ve been in many classes with him, he is the real deal) ! Shiva Rea, Saul David Raye (for not as active), Steve Ross (has a great attitude!), Sean Corn Detox Flow (for the physically active), and here is something really cool: for just 4.75 a week, you can be a member of
i also recently discovered this person who takes a no-bullshit approach which i appreciate:
I am not saying yoga is the be-all-end-all, i’m saying it’s a tool that surely doesn’t hurt incorporating. I encourage everyone reading this to try a beginners class and let me know how you like it.
p+l
fd
