Addressing Fear and Anxiety through the Lens of Yoga & Ayurveda
May 6, 2020 | Written by Leticia Padmasr
These are times that, if we have been already struggling with anxiety and fear, these emotions can be amplified. We find ourselves facing anxious feelings and fear of the unknown, and being concerned for the health of ourselves, loved ones, and our communities. It is also very normal to feel off-center and ungrounded when our regular routines and usual structures are disrupted and interrupted… It is very hard to avoid stress but there are healthy ways to cope with it.
Now more than ever, we need to find our inner resilience and cultivate calm, so these uneasy feelings can be reduced and released, and we can be useful to our families and community. Yoga & Ayurveda offer insights and practices that are powerful support for the body, mind, and spirit. These practices help us to stay grounded and healthy.
Ayurveda explains that fear, anxiety, and un-groundedness are expressions of excess vata dosha in the mind. When vata in the mind is balanced, we experience joy, creativity, strong healing energy, and deeper spiritual connection. When vata is accumulated in the mind, it manifests as restlessness, fear, anxiety, and nervousness.
“Ayurveda explains that fear, anxiety, and un-groundedness are expressions of excess vata dosha in the mind.
The route of treatment in Ayurveda is based on the premise that like increases like, and that opposites balance. That means that once we know the qualities of vata dosha, we can apply the opposite ones to pacify the excess of those qualities in the body and mind. The predominant qualities of vata dosha are dry, cold, light, erratic, and rough. Vata dosha will be less likely to be imbalanced if we choose diets, lifestyle habits, and relationships that are the opposite of its predominant qualities. In order words, we need to fill our lives with warmth, routine, a sense of groundedness, and loving relationships. Our diets and lifestyle need to expose us to heavy, oily, and warm influences which will counter roughness and help us to nourish and lubricate aggravated vata.
Here I share with you some timeless practices that bring me tranquility and relaxation.
Dinacharya
Even though my regular schedule has been transformed, I have kept my daily rituals of self-care which nourish and soothe the nervous system. Our nervous system loves and thrives in a structure of daily rhythm and predictability. If you don’t have a daily self-care routine, now it is the time to create it!
I recommend that you start with creating regularity in your sleep and eating habits. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Eat your meal in a peaceful manner at regular times as well. You can also eventually add tongue scraping which removes excess toxins and activates our digestion. Something that you may also want to consider is abhyanga, self-massage. It deeply lubricates the tissues, calms the nervous system, and helps us to feel loved and grounded.
Classical Hatha Yoga
This is another great practice that positively impact my mind. It includes not only the yoga asanas (physical postures) but also deep relaxation, breathing exercises, and meditation. These practices stimulate blood and lymph flow and moves prana. This will remove the force of stagnation, create ease in the body, and balance the mind. Ideally, practice cultivating sattva (the energy of clarity and peace, responsible for true health and healing). Sattva produces a feeling of harmony and quietness which is important when trying to balance feelings of anxiousness.
I am teaching Live Online Hatha Classes. Join us and let’s get out of our head, reconnect to our body, and create a positive energetic shift. Join me!
Learn More about Classical Hatha Yoga
Back to Nature
Through connection with Mother Nature, I am reminded that I am part of something much bigger - the play of the Cosmic Universe. With this outlook I know everything is divinely ordered. In everyday life, I make an effort to remember this as I take my nature walks. I know that not everyone is able to take walks in nature but being able to be outside is not the only available option to bring us into harmony with the natural rhythms and cycles that we are part of. I, for example, observe the natural world unfolding from many angles: the sunlight moving through the blinds touching my skin, waking up with the sun, the breeze that comes in at night, aromatherapy, watering the plants in my home, the stink bugs that always find ways to get in, feeling the changes of the body and mind as the sun sets, gazing at the blue sky… So just a few ideas for you to consider…
Wholesome Diet
When we are experiencing imbalances and our minds are filled with fear and anxiety, it can be challenging to create a balanced diet. I eat and cook according to the Ayurvedic principles which makes cooking our own meals both manageable and enjoyable. Here is an article I wrote on Ayurvedic Meal Planning. I hope it gives you some insights and inspiration to cook nourishing and delicious meals!
These are just a few of the practices and principles of Yogic & Ayurvedic wisdom that help me to find peace in the midst of this storm. I hope they can be beneficial to you as well. And remember that Ayurveda treats the individual and not the symptoms. It is very important that you understand the base nature of your body and mind and address it accordingly. This will be more effective than selecting from a list of possible remedies to correct an imbalance. Working with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner can be instrumental in helping you understand your own nature and identifying natural practices to reduce fear and anxiety and achieve vibrant health.