By Kimaya Singh, Sangeetha Saran, and Faye Martins
How can we teach or practice Yoga for emotional health? Do you know why students come to your classes? Do you ever ask? What is Yoga for healthy emotional flow? You might think students come to class for stress relief or weight loss, and you might be correct, but there are many different reasons. Some students want to belong, and some want a sanctuary from anxiety, depressed feelings, and the pressure of life. Yoga teacher training has equipped instructors with the tools to offer students a haven to recover and restore emotional health. Yet, people are increasingly feeling the burdens of emotional stress.
Yogic Methodology
Many different yogic methods can help students during a yoga session. Four of these methods include:
1. Breathing exercises: Breathing exercises can help to calm the mind and body and can also help to improve concentration.
2. Meditation: Meditation can help focus the mind and promote relaxation.
3. Yoga Poses: Yoga postures can help to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. They can also help to reduce stress and tension in the body.
4. Relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques such as visualization or progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce stress and promote well-being.
Connections
The connection between Yogic methodology and emotional health is a powerful one. Yoga has long since been known to help bring certain emotions to the surface and help with the healing process. As we move through our training and connect our minds and bodies, we can help relieve stress and overcome the pain that sometimes occurs. This can happen when it is least expected, or we can actively use yoga to be emotionally healthier. After all, our practice helps to ground us in ways that we may not otherwise be open to without it.
About Pain
Although emotional pain is often a part of life, people often find themselves unable to deal with it on all levels. Or they choose to deal with it by turning to unhealthy habits, such as: Overeating or drinking too much, among other things. Yoga is a healthy way to deal with the ups and downs of life. It can be a way to guide us through dark times and help us examine our inner thoughts and feelings. It can also give us something to look forward to during stressful times. How often have you left the class feeling better than when you went in? Yogic practices don’t just help us physically; our approach has a definite emotionally uplifting aspect.
Focusing in Class
Hatha Yoga is more than just moving through a series of asanas. It is a way to challenge our bodies and discipline our minds. It can help to keep us focused while strengthening us physically and emotionally. Since Yoga is non-competitive, we focus more on ourselves than on others around us in class. That is often a positive aspect because our focus is often on what’s going on externally instead of internally.
Connecting with Your Inner-Self
Taking the time to connect with our inner selves and examining our emotions is very healthy. Yoga For healthy emotional flow can offer us a way to work through emotions, allowing us to look at things from a different level and hopefully find a way to overcome emotional obstacles to get the most out of life. We all have an inner self that is always seeking to be expressed. When we are in touch with our inner-self, we can connect with our true desires and feelings. We can also access our intuition and tap into our creativity. Yoga is a great way to connect with your inner self.
True Feelings
Through yoga, we quiet the mind and focus on the present moment. This can be a powerful tool for accessing our inner self, allowing us to connect with our true feelings and intuition. When we are in touch with our inner-self, we can better make decisions that align with our true desires. We can also access our creativity more efficiently and develop new ideas. If you feel stuck or lost, practicing yoga may help you reconnect with your inner self and find your way back to your creative center.
Teaching Yoga For Healthy Emotional Flow
Yoga is not just a physical practice but a holistic approach to health and well-being. By connecting the mind, body, and breath, yoga helps to promote a sense of calm and balance. For those dealing with anxiety, depression, or other emotional issues, yoga can be an extremely effective tool for promoting healthy emotional flow. Here are five tips for teaching Yoga for healthy emotional flow:
1. Create a safe and supportive environment: It’s essential that your students feel safe and supported in your class. Create an environment free from judgment and offers a sense of community.
2. Focus on the breath: The breath is a powerful tool for managing stress and anxiety. Please encourage your students to focus on their breath throughout the practice.
3. Choose calming poses: When teaching yoga for emotional health, it’s essential to choose poses for calming and grounding. Avoid poses that are stimulating or overly challenging.
4. Offer modifications: Not every pose will be appropriate for every student. Offer modifications and alternatives so that each student can find a comfortable challenge.
5. Invite relaxation: At the end of the practice, invite your students to spend some time in savasana (corpse pose). This is an opportunity for them to let go of any residual tension and stress.
Meditation for Emotional Health
The practice of meditation can be a powerful tool for emotional release. When we allow ourselves to focus on the present moment and observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment, we can create space for emotions to move through us. This can be a very liberating experience, especially if we hold onto pain or trauma from the past. There are many ways to meditate, so it is important to find a practice that feels comfortable for you.
For New Students
If you are new to meditation, finding a guided meditation or class to get started may be helpful. Once you understand the practice, you can experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. If you are struggling with emotionally charged thoughts or memories, focusing on your breath during meditation may be helpful. Taking slow, deep breaths can help to calm the mind and ease anxiety.
Options for Meditation
You might also want to try visualization exercises, where you imagine yourself in a peaceful place surrounded by loving energy. Allow yourself to be patient with the process of meditation and emotional release. It can take time to develop a regular practice and see results. With patience and persistence, you can discover the many benefits of this powerful healing tool.
Mantras
There are many mantras for emotional health, but these are four of our favorites:
1. “I am open to love.”
2. “I release all feelings of anger and resentment.”
3. “I am worthy of love and respect.”
4. “I am grateful for all the good in my life.”
These mantras can help you to feel more open, loving, and grateful. They can also help you to let go of any anger or resentment you may be holding onto. If you feel down or stressed, try repeating one or more of these mantras to yourself. You may be surprised at how much better you feel afterward.
© Copyright– Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
Do you want to become a mindfulness meditation teacher?
Please visit the following link to see our selection of Yoga instructor courses and continuing education courses.
https://aurawellnesscenter.com/store/
Click here to see our online Yoga Nidra teacher training course.
Are you an experienced teacher looking for YACEP credits or continuing education?
Subscribe to Our Newsletter for Special Discounts and New Products
Related Resources
52 Essential Principles of Yoga Philosophy to Deepen your Practice
by Rina Jakubowicz
A Relaxing Way to De-stress, Re-energize, and Find Balance
by: Gail Boorstein Grossman
YOGA: THE PATH TO HOLISTIC HEALTH
by B.K.S. Iyengar
TEACHING YOGA: Essential Foundations and Techniques
By Mark Stephens
To see our complete selection of affordable yoga instructor certification programs, please click on the courses and products button in the navigation bar in the upper left section of this page. Please feel free to share our posts with your friends, colleagues, and favorite social media networks.
See our testimonials to find out what our graduates have to say about teaching yoga sessions and our selection of inexpensive yoga instructor courses.
4 thoughts on “Yoga For Emotional Health”