Yoga -- Is it for me? (ritual, gospel, blood, pray)

[Katzpur]

Are there any of you who regularly practice yoga? I am trying to find some way of training my body and mind to be at peace. That probably sounds funny, but I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes the pressures and stress of life just seem so overwhelming. I was just wondering if yoga has helped any of you, or if I should just stick to my Zoloft.

[Hacker]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Are there any of you who regularly practice yoga? I am trying to find some way of training my body and mind to be at peace. That probably sounds funny, but I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes the pressures and stress of life just seem so overwhelming. I was just wondering if yoga has helped any of you, or if I should just stick to my Zoloft.

Actually Katz, I went into a deep depression after my father died of a drug overdose and after that I was prescribed zoloft. It was effective to a certain extent, and I took it for about 2 years. Then I went on this health kick after I quit smoking and read everything that I could about health and wellness and started to do aerobic workouts/weight training every day in conjunction with a yoga practice.(at first I chose it for stretching aspects but there is more benefits to yoga then that). You wouldn't believe the profound difference it impacted my well being. Aerobic activity and yoga is the best antidepressant ever. You may be skeptical but in all honesty, it takes patience, diligence, and enthusiasm. You have to go into it with a positive mind. Yoga sigificantly lowers blood pressure, reduces tension and stress, enhances well being.....this will be continued I gotta run for now.

Edit: I have tons of yoga videos and amazon.com is an excellent place to shop. I would suggest starting out with Susan Deason's Yoga For Beginners. Rodnee Yee is good too. I believe you should give it a try.

[dawny0826]

During the summer, I suffered from a horrible bout of depression. And I regularly suffer from anxiety.

Yoga (and other exercise, like walking and bellydance) was very beneficial.

I exchanged commonly used mantras with my own...took that time to meditate and pray. And then there's the physical aspect...it's so good for flexibility.

It's feel good mental/spiritual/physical exercise. It's uplifting.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Are there any of you who regularly practice yoga? I am trying to find some way of training my body and mind to be at peace. That probably sounds funny, but I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes the pressures and stress of life just seem so overwhelming. I was just wondering if yoga has helped any of you, or if I should just stick to my Zoloft.

:Raises hand:

I do. Yoga helps me so much. I'm much less stress, have less health problems and just have a peace of mind.

You should try huggermugger.com, Katz, they are a Salt Lake bases yoga-company.

Just let me know if you have an questions. I'm slowly getting into it, and loving it. When I meditate, I focus on a certain aspect of the gospel and just play it out in my mind and try to go in depth.



Happy yogaing!

[Kungfuzed]

Have you tried taking all your stress and anger and frustration and internalizing it all and crush it into oblivion with sheer willpower? It's been working great for me.

On a more serious note, if you have a young cat or kitten, buy a lazer pointer. Watching him do laps around the living room and up the walls cheers me right up, and it's alot less streuous than working out myself.

Zoloft is just a temporary solution. I was on it for a few months after my divorce. Finding new love got me off of it.

[Hema]

I practice yoga regularly. Yoga not only keeps you fit but the postures also help prevent certain ailments by ensuring there is the proper mixture of blood and air throughout the body. There are exercises for the pancreatic glands for eg. to help prevent diabetes. There are postures to speed up the metabolism rate and help you lose weight naturally.

[Arabis]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Are there any of you who regularly practice yoga? I am trying to find some way of training my body and mind to be at peace. That probably sounds funny, but I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes the pressures and stress of life just seem so overwhelming. I was just wondering if yoga has helped any of you, or if I should just stick to my Zoloft.

I love yoga!!! I did yoga during both of my pregnancies, it was a wonderful stress reliever. I thought that it was so beneficial that I tried to get several of my friends, pregnant and not, to start, but to no avail. They just made fun of me, but I kept right on. I have even tried to get my 3 year old to try some of the Kathy Smith does yoga videos that I have. She loves the funny names of the positions. I have tried anti-depressants recently and I really found that exercise helped much more than drugs did, plus I think that it is amuch more active approach, and it can be fun too. Good luck!

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Are there any of you who regularly practice yoga? I am trying to find some way of training my body and mind to be at peace. That probably sounds funny, but I don't know how else to describe it. Sometimes the pressures and stress of life just seem so overwhelming. I was just wondering if yoga has helped any of you, or if I should just stick to my Zoloft.

I've tried Yoga, and it left me too much room to let things run through my mind like the groceries I need to buy tomorrow and whether I need to do the laundry before the weekend.

I much prefer Tai Chi. It really clears my mind, gives me the same stretch, and since I have to be focused on what I'm doing in order to not fall over, I don't get stuck thinking about groceries.

As for Zoloft, I hafta ask, and no I'm not recommending you stop the Zoloft immediately (gee, do I look like a doctor??), but have you tried anything like St. John's Wort or other traditional remedies? For some people, it's enough (and exercise helps also) and Zoloft is like using a hammer to kill a flea.

If you go to a doctor in Germany, you'll get St. John's Wort as a first resort. They only pull out the big guns when they have to.

Oh, I also take an herbal supplement called DSF (De-Stress Formula). Man, can I tell when I go off the stuff for a couple of days. I lack energy, and it makes it more likely that I'll be in a cranky mood. It has many things in it, but B vitamins and antioxidants are a main ingredient.

Just a few thoughts to consider, anyway...