Blue Monday
When I first came to NY ten years ago my interest was intrigued by the funny dynamic of “Mondays.” Here most federal holidays fall on a Monday, perhaps in an effort to diminish the stressful aura of this busy day, and make room for a long weekend. But on a regular basis, as Sundays roll, I feel the anxiety marker escalating to herald the arrival of “Manic Monday.” Later, I learned about “Cyber Monday” – the Monday following Black Friday when virtual consumptions hit the roof. And most recently, I have added yet another descriptive Monday to my list. It is Blue Monday and falls on the last week of every January, which according to Cliff Arnalls’ calculations is the most depressing time of the year. As the night engulfs the day we tend to get less productive, more tired, and certainly sink under the “blues.” Especially in winter when the body is in a hibernation mode our brains get sluggish, our moods gloomy. No one is actually immune against depression. We all get into these vacuum states of “lack of direction” and “unwillingness to act.” Unless it is a severe clinical condition resulting from a serious medical illness, death of a loved one or family history that requires allopathic treatment, this particular state of mind can be attended and approached in a holistic way.
Prior to offering a holistic remedy cocktail against “gloom” it is worth outlining the physiological impact of depression. Chemically, the hippocampus, the small part of the brain that is vital to the storage of memories, appears to be smaller in people with a history of depression than in those who’ve never been depressed. A smaller hippocampus has fewer serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a calming brain chemical known as a neurotransmitter that allows communication between nerves in the brain and the body. Concurrently, the stress hormone “cortisol” is produced in excess in depressed people.
When you ruminate, or introspect in a negative way, you create emotional arousal that causes the release of multiple stress hormones. Fear resulting in anxiety and stress is the biggest threat that causes the body’s natural “flight or fight” reactions to kick in. Subsequently, the delivery of “fuel” to the main muscles decreases, the appetite for food or sex diminishes, a lethargic mood settles permanently and a sense of lack of direction and hope nestles inevitably.
The solution… To realize that we have the ability to control depressive states and not let them invade our lifestyle by embracing a balanced diet, interacting with nature frequently and committing to a regular yoga practice that involves plenty of back and forward-bending, twisting and inversions. As we backbend we open the heart and release clogged energy that in the past has prevented us from socializing. As we cultivate a desire to share and move we also promote circulation, boost immunity, self-confidence and the production of the joyful hormone serotonin. As we dive into the legs we elicit the parasympathetic nervous system response and unleash the body’s natural relaxation mechanisms. As we twist we release emotional residue that clogs main energetic centers and stimulates the entire endocrine system. As we invert we reverse the flow of gravity and catalyze the hypothalamus to perform its endocrine duties and flood the organs with fresh hormones resulting in heightened levels of optimism and zest for life.
Before the coming Blue Monday approaches don’t hesitate and dive into this exciting Yogea anti-depression oxygen shot of poses, relaxation and soulful breathing. It’s natural, it’s stimulating, it’s revivifying and will get you over the blues.
Anti-Depression Yogea Routine: Revive & Rejoice (Open Level)
This open Yogea sequence focuses on mood enhancing poses that give the body a natural boost of vitality and supply the mind with its needed dose of optimism and life-affirming vows. Starting from the serenity of child’s pose practitioners are asked to “zone out” instead of “tuning in.” The emphasis is on moving the body through the breath and promoting circulation by a combination of energizing Sun and grounding moon salutes. Backbends are then slowly introduced to unzip the chest and pump fresh blood into the inter-vertebral discs. Modified standing and sitting poses alternate with deep twists to unleash energetic clogs in the lower abdominal area and help release fear and anxiety. Targeted inversions exert a calming and pacifying effect stimulating the secretion of relaxing hormones, as circulation increases thus reducing potential insomnia or anxiety. The sequence culminates with a modified headstand that reverses the flow of gravity and oxygenates the brain, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system and leading to relaxation. Finally, a soothing inversion of “legs up the wall” is held to induce a state of tranquility and wholeness. The sequence ends with a tapping practice utilizing the practitioner’s own source of healing energy to energize the organs and help bring the senses outwards so that every practitioner could pave their own unique way to a meaningful life full of joy and a sense of sharing and appreciation.
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