Depression is a challenging journey that affects millions of people around the world. Its impact on mental, emotional, and physical well-being can be overwhelming. While there is no quick fix for depression, incorporating yoga and mindfulness into your healing process can provide a powerful tool for self-care and support on your path to recovery. In this article, we will explore the things that helped me to release some frustrations about myself, I needed to change some old habits, and became more in tune with who I wanted to be.
When I got depressed a few years ago, I was annoyed by the fake stuff on social media. I just couldn't imagine that everyone was really as happy as they pretended to be. It seemed to me like a game and I was the loser. I thought I had to look as lucky as everyone else. I didn't want to bother anyone with how I really felt so I was determined to solve this problem in myself first. During this rather lonely time, my diary was (and sometimes still is) my dearest friend. I could go somewhere with my feelings and felt taken care of by myself. The stories I wrote down were about events I hadn't yet processed. I sought approval from men, but it turned out that I didn't dare to love, and probably just couldn't surrender to it. I guess I also scared men off by being a bit overwhelming. Because of these rejections, my bond with myself grew. I started to have more compassion for the way I was and could more easily let things slide off that had already happened anyway. I learned that this moment is really all that matters. Everything happens here and we don't really need to be anywhere else but here in-this-moment. With Buddha Heart I want to share with you the journey of this consciousness. Showing you what life is like for me now and how it can be when we dare to let go and trust that everything will work out fine. Or maybe it already was but I just couldn't see it that way.
I remember very clearly that moment of realizing there was something going on with me. After some events in my life that I didn't want to face, I became numb. This meant that I was never excited about anything at that time. I just couldn't really bother if the sun was out or if it was raining. If something fun was going to happen was normal to me as well. I remember I asked my mum what to do with myself since it was super frustrating. She told me to accept myself as I was at that moment, I remember she said just fall into it, there will be a bottom for sure. Emotions are just what they are: emotions.
So I did and it was very overwhelming at first to experience this part of myself that was apparently never there. The first journal I bought was in Australia when I was babysitting there. It was a big relief to me to understand myself when I wrote down how I felt about certain things. When I look back on it now, I felt like such a victim of my life while now I think there is also my responsibility in every situation and how I deal with it. But there was no way by then I could accept that there was my responsibility as well. That was too much to face, as I already felt too horrible, I thought.
I knew I needed to keep going. Being outside and moving the body while the mind could just run and did what he wanted. While I was distracting myself by breathing mindfully and becoming slower, the thoughts in my head made room also for breaks in between the thoughts. This was a huge relief, as it had been so busy in my head that it was also very hard to sleep. In the beginning, I was going to yoga almost 5 times per week. Later this was not necessary anymore but at first, it really was. My sleeping improved and the tension in my body made room for energy to flow.
One of the fundamental principles of yoga is mindfulness, the practice of being fully present in the moment. By focusing on breath and bodily sensations during yoga poses, you learn to redirect your attention away from depressive thoughts and shift your focus to the present. Mindfulness encourages self-awareness and allows you to observe your emotions without judgment, creating a space for healing and self-compassion.
This has brought more clarity. The Buddha actually means the Enlightened One, because he knows who he is. The journey back to your original self is the journey of life. Buddhists do not believe that the Buddha is a god. They believe that he was a human being who became enlightened and understood life in the deepest possible way. The Buddha told the people not to worship him, but to take responsibility for their own lives and actions. He did not speak of a creator, but of a miraculous force of energy that connects all beings. He spoke of a time without beginning.
There are many Buddhas, but the Buddha well known in history was Gautama Siddhartha. The word Buddha is a title meaning 'one who is awake'. The teachings show us how to be more understanding, compassionate, and accepting.
By living with a Buddha Heart I learn to have compassion for myself and for others. Through this heart people come on my way who help me a bit further towards self love. They teach me to see life in a broader perspective and to be forgiving.
Depression can be accompanied by self-critical thoughts and a lack of self-compassion. Yoga teaches us to embrace our bodies and minds with kindness and acceptance. Through yoga practice, you learn to listen to your body's needs and honor your limitations without judgment. This shift towards self-compassion nurtures a loving relationship with yourself, fostering a sense of worthiness and healing from within.
Yoga is not a cure for depression but can be a transformative tool on your healing journey. By incorporating yoga into your weekly routine, you can cultivate mindfulness, release physical tension, enhance your mood, find solace in a community, and nurture self-compassion. Remember, you are not alone. Reach out for professional help, and lean on each other. As you might like to help another, keep faith, that there will be someone who would like to help you too.
