Is it common to experience depression when you start practicing yoga?

Posted by on Mar 18, 2011 in FAQ | 4 comments

Question by Violet: Is it common to experience depression when you start practicing yoga?
Just started yoga few weeks ago and am having a flood of regret and upsetting memories like, washing over me? Is this related?

Best answer:

Answer by Selene
I highly doubt it. I don’t see how exercise can cause you to be depressed X_x that’s like saying: I started cross-country running and suddenly got depressed

Give your answer to this question below!

4 Comments

  1. I ♠ My Dog - March 18, 2011

    n Jainism, yoga is the sum total of all activities — mental, verbal and physical.

  2. The Doors of Perception - March 18, 2011

    93

    Very possible, which most people would deny. Kundilini awakening involves depression as a symptom, and the Kundalini is awoken through yoga practices. Are you having any other symptoms? Dealing with unexpected Kundalini awakening can be quite difficult, but it would be quite to your advantage to keep working at it.

    Signs of Kundalini awakening

    * Involuntary jerks, tremors, shaking, itching, tingling, and crawling sensations, especially in the arms and legs
    * Energy rushes or feelings of electricity circulating the body
    * Intense heat (sweating) or cold, especially as energy is experienced passing through the chakras
    * Spontaneous pranayama, asanas, mudras and bandhas
    * Visions or sounds at times associated with a particular chakra
    * Diminished sexual desire or a state of constant orgasm
    * Emotional purgings in which particular emotions become dominant for short periods of time.
    * Depression
    * Pressure inside the skull and headache
    * Bliss, feelings of infinite love and universal connectedness, transcendent awareness

    93 93/93

  3. Cindy2 - March 19, 2011

    Yes, it is. I read a book written by a Christian pastor who was born and preaches in India. He said that when he first came to America, he was appalled by the yoga exercise shows he saw on television. In his country, yoga exercises are used to put the body into certain positions to receive evil spirits.

  4. Dances with Buddha - March 19, 2011

    It is not unusual, but necessarily common, for it to stir up various emotions (some labeled “bad” like sadness/despair).

    One key distinction that makes yoga different from other exercise is its emphasis on developing inner awareness (which if a person decides not to do, makes yoga pretty much just another exercise).

    The word yoga is often defined as “union,” and a perfect example of that definition is idea that the body and mind are linked.
    Thus, certain physical actions can have an mental/emotional result, and, vice versa.

    This article is a good starting place to learn more abut this subject:
    http://www.yogajournal.com/for_teachers/806

    Namaste’,
    dwb

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