Depression, being a medical term, stands for a condition more serious than a occasional sadness and negative mood. Depression is a long term state of mind where the sadness, negative feelings and expectations, grief and other discouraging emotions may lead you to the development of numerous health problems. Eventually, depression, lacking treatment, may lead to suicide. Thus, it is a serious condition needing timely and dedicated treatment.
Yoga, being a discipline which helps people find their inner happiness and a relaxed, positive self, has been proven useful for treating depression many times. Even though antidepressants and other medications against depression may help, yoga is completely healthy and natural, without any side-effects.
Drugs like SSRIs, Prozac, Zoloft and other antidepressants of this type have shown effectiveness in fighting depression symptoms in many sufferers. However, these are also capable of triggering many unwanted and dangerous side-effects, making things worse. Basically, these drugs trigger the production of serotonine, causing people to feel happier and less tensed.
Nevertheless, the same effect can be triggered through yoga and physical exercises it encompasses. Every mildly depressed person, changing his/her lifestyle, introducing physical exercise, yoga and increasing their omega3 fatty acids intake, can treat depression with ease.
Naturally, medications are capable of helping in certain cases and should not be completely ruled out. However, you should definitely try healthier methods first.
Depression affects people differently. Thus, the yogic treatment varies, depending on the problems a person might have. So, those who have troubles waking up in the morning, walking with their backs and shoulders straight and looking as if their bodies have been deflated, need a specific treatment which will deal with their lack of energy and improper posture, as well as inadequate breathing.
On the other hand, there are those who suffer from depression which makes them angry, restless, stiff and commonly agitated. These people also have troubles with breathing and they are in a desperate need of proper, yogic, treatment.
Deep inhalations, or asanas, are exercises which are excellent for treating depression. Sun salutations, and arm balancing can prove to be more than useful for self discipline, relaxation and concentration boosting. During back bending and other yogic exercises of this type, people are concentrating on the physical processes, clearing their minds of negative emotions. This has the desired, therapeutic effect. Camel pose and full back bends are bound to be great for these purposes, especially for the first type of depression.
Second type of depressed people may find back bending too agitating. These people need demanding exercises in order to challenge them, interest them and, thereby relax them. These patients are recommended to do exercises with open eyes, focusing on breathing.
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