Yoga for Anger
Today I felt very, very angry. Pissed off, mad, whatever you want to call it, it was there. What do we do, as yogis, with red, fiery anger? My current thought runs along this vein: think of anger like thoughts that pass through the mind during meditation. Don't react, or overact, to it/them. Acknowledge and let them pass.
I think about this topic on and off in my practice and how I feel about it changes. If anyone would like to weigh in, I appreciate knowledge and perspective.
If, for whatever reason, anger finds its way into your day, here is a brief sequence to reduce stress and re-balance.
I think about this topic on and off in my practice and how I feel about it changes. If anyone would like to weigh in, I appreciate knowledge and perspective.
If, for whatever reason, anger finds its way into your day, here is a brief sequence to reduce stress and re-balance.
Yoga for Anger
One of the best ways to reduce anger is by focusing on deep, slow breaths. Without using the breath as a distraction of what is bothering you, use your breath to view the situation in a different light. When you breathe, everything changes.
- Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
- Nadi Shodna (Alternate Nostril Breathing). Practice for 5-15 minutes.
- Begin head and neck rolls
- Bring head to one side, walk the hand out in the opposite direction to stretch side of neck
- Stretch other side of neck
- Simhasana (Lion's Pose/Breath)
- Cat/cow in table, moving with the breath
- Thread the needle in table, taking one arm under the other to twist. Repeat other side.
- Come forward onto stomach
- Gentle Ardha Navasana (Half Boat Pose). Repeat other side
- Ardha Salabasana (Half Locust Pose). Repeat other side
- Salabasana (Locust Pose)
- Garbasana (Child's Pose). Hold for 1-3 minutes
- Viparita Karani (Legs up the Wall Pose). Hold for 5-15 minutes
- Savasana