If you’re a beginner or want to take it easy for your first flow class, check your yoga schedule for a Hatha Flow – these classes are still based on physical effort and breath work, but usually the poses and sequences are closer to a beginner level. Though a flow class may be considered more difficult physically, I find it to be much easier mentally for when you are having difficulty worrying about things, because you literally don’t have the time to focus on worrying about anything, as you’re too busy following the instruction of the physical flow. Your focus of the class will be to time the movements with the breath (for example – you will inhale to enter a pose, and exhale as you exit). If you’re just starting to practice yoga, I recommend a Vinyasa or “Hatha Flow” class – these classes combine movement intended to link to cycles of the breath. What Type of Yoga Should I Practice to Ease Anxiety?Īs spoken earlier, yoga in general has been proven to help relieve anxiety symptoms, but there are a few different practices that may be more beneficial to individuals depending on a few factors. The study shows an improvement in recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduction in stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improvement in sleep patterns, and enhancement of overall well-being and quality of life. If you don’t believe me, here’s scientific proof.Ĭatherine Woodward’s (University of Mississippi) study proved that regular yoga practice enhances not only benefits the practitioner physically by improving muscular strength and body flexibility, improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, but also has multiple mental benefits as well. “Don’t resist the pain surrender to it, witness it, allow it, embrace it, and it will be transmuted into peace” – Eckhart Tolle Your yoga practice is the light that sheds truth on this matter – all you have to do is get on your mat! Yoga allows you to sit with what you’re given to “lean in” ( as Pema Chodron would say) to what you’re feeling to understand, and thus let it go.īy facing your anxieties, worries, and fears in the face in a calm state of mind on your yoga mat, you are able to see that those big scary monsters are really just shadows in the darkness of things that are much smaller in the light. No matter what type of yoga you settle on taking, as long as you are comfortable, you’ll benefit by consistent practice of bringing yourself to the present moment. Emphasis on the here and now is a reminder to not dwell on the past or future, as the now is the only thing you have control over. On your mat, nothing matters except for the single moment you are in. While you are physically tuning into your mind-body awareness through asana, yoga also pulls you to the current moment in time. In focusing on where your body is in space and the quality of breath, you are essentially distracting yourself from the mental chatter that can cause anxiety. In yoga, the goal is to direct your attention solely to the quality of your breath as you move through the physical postures. The purpose of the physical practice of yoga (often referred to as asana) is to establish a moving meditation. You are encouraged to leave any problems off the mat, and use your time in class to focus solely on the exercises at hand. Read on to figure out which type of yoga is best for you.Īs soon as you step onto your mat, you have entered a safe space. Yoga is well known for its benefits to help calm the body and mind, but some types of yoga may be better than others depending on certain individual factors. The two most common classes recommended for anxiety are Vinyasa Flow (sometimes offered as Hatha Flow) and Restorative Yoga (sometimes offered as Gentle Yoga or Yin Yoga). The long answer is it depends on your general preference, and what makes you feel most comfortable. What Type of Yoga is Best for Anxiety? The short answer- any type. But is there a lot of people who wonder if there is a specific type of yoga they should practice to receive the best results. Yoga has gained a lot of hype over the years for its benefits, especially relating to stress relief and anxiety ease.