Siddharth Chauhan

Article 3 - Keep your mental health safe with Yoga in COVID-19 Lockdown. UNPRECEDENTED TIMES - While the Covid-19 Pandemic has assuredly created an atmosphere of fear and stress across the world, isolation and physical distancing have become the contemporary norm everywhere. People have been forced to alter their routines and spend longer time at home during these challenging times. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is unique and unrivalled in several aspects and has challenged health care systems across the board. At present, the global momentum is at halt, and a second wave is being predicted. Preserving physical well-being and mental health becomes crucially important in such a scenario where restlessness may lead to symptoms like anxiety, despair and vulnerability. Refining the mind through yoga and meditation can be a lot beneficial when worry, sickness and depression have been around every nook and corner. With longer time being spent at home, one can tend to become lazy but yoga can help sustain freshness throughout the day which uplifts the lower mood levels as well. Even phobias and social anxiety can be meticulously cured through regular meditation and yoga. THE HERITAGE OF YOGA - Since ancient times, "The Yogasutra's of Patanjali" are renowned for being part of healthy lifestyles with the numerous therapeutic benefits they have to offer. It serves as a nourishment to the mind and the body during these tough times and helps us cope with emotional exhaustion and negativity. Not only does it help improve focus and body flexibility, rather it also contributes in maintaining healthy weight and reduces the risk of heart attacks. It synergizes the inner vitality and strengthens the immune system through better blood circulation and improved sleep patterns. It also improves the functioning of the nervous system which leads to loss of stress and ushers calmness. Commitment to this natural exercise with a disciplined sunrise schedule will surely have a positive impact on the body in the long run with faster healing tendencies. As individuals re-orient themselves towards peaceful practices, Yoga also helps them to contain anger and cultivate generosity. The emotional distress caused by the Pandemic had led to a huge psychological impact on people around the world but exercising yoga on a regular basis can steadily nurture health across all agegroups and revive the work-health balance. Many Covid-19 survivors face traumatic stress in the aftermath of local outbreaks and yoga can serve as a therapy to reinstate their mind to normalcy. It serves as a self-help technique and generates inner happiness which is vital for mental health. Hatha yoga has assumed the forefront in the recent decades and is inclined towards posture based physical fitness. There are several asanas (postures) in this tradition which can be easily performed at home and it also lay's a special emphasis on the cleansing process within the body through a proper diet. Pranayama is an essential component of this yoga and focuses on breathe control. It consists of synchronising the breath with movements between asanas but is also a distinct breathing exercise on its own, usually practiced after asanas. It is believed to have a positive impact on patients suffering from asthama, hyperventilation symptoms and lung disorders and help them revitalize their breathing system. Foundational postures like Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Shavasana and the likes can be performed at easy and are helpful for beginners. The entire yoga system not only helps in lubricating the joints, but also boosts energy and stimulates digestion. It has a soothing effect on the Nervous system, casting out negative energy and relieving the mind from stress-disorders. The regular practice of yoga also assists in harboring a gentle behavior towards others, thereby creating a positive niche of empathy. People practicing yoga tend to be at peace with others through the spirit of kindness and compassion which the world needs at this junction of our lives. Yoga also helps in increasing the will power of the mind and concentration which can help a person navigate through emotional impulses. Anxiety may set the pace of productivity towards lower outputs as the mind is occupied with a lot of thoughts caused due to negativity however yoga can assist in the healing process by gradually helping one come out of the anxiety loop. Yoga may also be of great support in establishing stability when practiced in a consistent manner through the daily routine. With repetition and persistence, the advanced asanas can be learnt that may seem difficult in the early stages of yoga practice. THE WORLD AROUND US - Though the consumption of daily news and social media information can escalate anxiety levels, a well devised yoga schedule can help us in evolving new strategies to tackle the problems that we come across in our daily life. Practicing yoga in the time of such a global crisis can assist in channelizing our energy in the right direction with better mental focus and clarity. Selfisolation has definitely taken a toll on the overall mental health of people across the globe and this abysmal state has been further triggered by overwhelming media sensationalisation through facebook, twitter and the likes. However, Plunging in the pools of daily yoga practice can guide us towards meditative and spiritual growth. People may explore the possibilities of learning yoga through videos and enrich their experience through online yoga classes which can be a step-wise guide towards body cleansing. Performing yoga in fresh early morning can keep the mind in a refreshed state for the whole day. INCHING TOWARDS OPTIMISM - It has been observed that the risk of acute respiratory infections tends to increase in people with poor mental health conditions. Home-based practices like yoga and meditation can help in strengthening the lung functionality. The breathing technique of Pranayama can serve as a helping hand for people who are overstressed by the compulsions of social distancing, thereby creating a healthier and positive environment. By now, the world has realized that "Prevention is better than cure" and moving towards healthier options like yoga is a step in the right direction. A balanced diet being supplemented with regular yoga workouts is an additional incentive. Social distancing has proved to be a boon during the time of such a contagion and to focus on yoga assumes pivotal importance as we sway through this time of crisis. The deeply rooted traditional practice of yoga can fortify the body as well as the mind which has rippling effects on the cognitive behavior of individuals and helps them navigate on the path of a healthier mental life. Yoga has been helpful in engaging communities towards a positive thought process by dealing with the symptoms of anxiety and loneliness. Though we may still not be looking forward to group sessions in the times to come, the practice may be carried out within our home-spaces with anticipation for the good times to return through normalcy. Enrichment of mental peace through daily yoga can turn out to be a good stress-buster without the need of heading out of our homes and keeping dis-orders at bay. Paranoid thoughts, panic attacks and other obsessive-compulsive disorders can be flushed out of the body with an organized routine and self-disciplined outlook. There has been an ever increasing number of people suffering from depression due to work-pressures, however a gradual shift in behavior through self awareness towards healthy habits like yoga can lead to a constructive lifestyle. It has been thoroughly perceived as an optimistic approach that leads to benefits in the long term, both physical and emotional. STEERING OUR HABITS - Articulating the body metabolism through informed choices like yoga can help us harvest the benefits for the coming times. While the world is grappling with the pestilence of Covid-19, mental health has altogether assumed great importance to sustain an environment of calmness and peace of mind. Steering our habits towards a healthier purpose is the correct action that needs to be practiced at this hour. Improved mental health can increase the self-esteem of individuals and boost the morale, thereby shaping an environment of positivity for the greater good of everyone. Mindfulness in choices can help in the realignment of thoughts and a healthy decision towards peacefulness. Yoga has also contributed towards helping individuals gain larger attention spans, thereby increasing overall productivity and outcomes with greater clarity in decision-making. A HOPEFUL FUTURE - Seeking help is very important for people suffering from trauma in its various forms and this can be achieved by discussing personal grievances with family and friends. Adopting a pragmatic approach of connecting with therapists and psychologists can be exponentially beneficial in the long-run as well. While we live in the times of uncertainty, we should be hopefully positive that all is not lost and that the times to come are going to get better. Emotional togetherness is of utmost importance as our faith is being tested and we should strive towards being the best versions of ourselves. We should not let the Covid-19 pandemic breach our aspirations and what becomes of greater importance is the bond of trust that we need to strengthen among each other. Yoga and meditation are a means to connecting with our inner selves and with others through the feeling of harmony for better and healthier living. We should embrace this life with gratitude and keeping moving forward with a positive outlook.