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Managing Anxiety the Yoga Way
My yoga teacher defines in anxiety as, the inability
to stay present with what is coming up. He further
describes this inability to stay present with what is
coming up as the the lack of trust in our inner
wisdom. Individuals rely on so many externals to
define what is right and wrong, that they lose sight of
their truths. Managing anxiety, the yoga way, involves
letting go of the control involved in needing to know
everything--defined by externals--vs. going inside.
How does one experience this? Let's go back to the
Reconnect with Food - Pillars of Behavior
Analysis:
Physical: Checking in physically involves
noticing where you hold your tension when anxiety is
on the rise. Perhaps it is your neck and shoulders,
hips and thighs or maybe your gut--or a tension
headache arises.
Emotional: What emotion comes up for you
when you find yourself in an anxiety-producting
situation. Is it fear? Most often this is the emotion that
comes up as the unknown produces doubt.
Spiritual: What spiritual component can you
identify when you are feeling anxious? Is it loss of
control and the need to let go of this need to control
the outcome of every situation?
A regular yoga practice can help you tune in on a
deeper level and actually experience vs. simply "talk"
about what might be experienced. In enrolling clients
in our program who are discharged from treatment
centers, it is apparent to our staff that many
programs "talk" about feeling vs. actually have
clients "experience" what it is like to feel.
A few years ago, a young woman wanted so badly to
attend a Reconnect with Food intensive program.
When she asked her therapist's opinion, the therapist
immediately squashed her clients idea with so many
fear-producing reasons why her client should not
attend. None were valid in that the therapist had never
attended a Reconnect with Food intensive to be able
to address her client's concerns. Secondly, the
therapist was making decisions for her client and not
allowing her client to tap into her own internal
wisdom. How frustrating for the client. And, what do
you suppose that the therapist feared most? A
progressive approach to eating disorder recovery, a
threat to her practice, or something else?
Another situation brought a potential yoga teacher who
wanted to attend our Reconnect with Food yoga-
based professional development program. She
needed to know what would happen at every minute of
the intensive and requested several opinions before
she could make a decision. The issue? Would you
say the need to let go of control? Or something
deeper?
In yoga, you practice meditation--the highest form of
yoga-
-that can help you create the silence and space to
tune into what is right for you. The breathing involved
in yoga can help diffuse pent-up anxiety and calm the
nervous system. Can yoga cure your anxiety? Not
exactly. However, studies featured on our website
illustrate how yoga works on changing the brain
chemistry so that anxiety and other concerns may be
managed thus increasing quality of life.
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Yoga-Based Professional Development
Program for Eating Disorder Recovery --in Jamaica--is
the place to
be in February 2010! Early bird price extended
through mid-November. Note new venue with all
meals included and more amenities.
Learn more and register now
Reconnect with Food--Holiday Series--begins
Wednesday evening, November 18th.
Learn more and
register now
This program will be conducted by a variety of our staff
members.
Inner Door Center Comprehensive
Eating
Disorder Programs
Located in the eclectic and trendy town of Royal Oak,
MI. Ask about housing for those who live out of the
area.
We participate with several health/managed care
plans.
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