Panic is a natural, useful reactions to certain situations. People sometimes talk to me about eliminating these sensations, but panic at the sight of flames is perfectly reasonable – and actually helps you to deal with the problem you’re facing as blood rushes to the where you need it to fight or run. It’s only when the symptoms of panic appear at inappropriate times that suggest it’s time to take action to change things. Anxiety on the other hand, is like a low background hum of stress. You may know why you’re feeling anxious – exams, meeting, impending birth (my mums to be report it often), but sometimes it becomes a default state of being with nothing you can pin down as a cause. Either way, anxiety and stress are bad for you in the long term. They are states to enter, to deal with the cause and then to release to return to your natural, calm, relaxed self.  

Yoga can deal with this from a few different directions. First it’s important to learn to relax absolutely and completely. Many students appear at class with unconscious tension. I can see their shoulders rubbing their ears, but they claim to be relaxed. Be mindful, become aware. Introduce tension, to recognise it – pull shoulders up to the ears, then let it go, to understand the contrast physically and in your mind too. Unconscious patterns of tension are often symptoms of held in emotions that have got stuck in the body. Be aware that letting go can also release the emotion associated with it. Yoga nidra is a great deep relaxation that bypasses your conscious, thinking mind to take you to a calm relaxed space inside. 

Shoulders can carry the burden of emotional tension, in which case consider goumukasana (head of a cow) and garudasana arms (eagle) to loosen them out. Simhasana – lion posture allows you to let go of all the words you haven’t said. ‘Butter buttocks’ and swinging arms are great to shake away places where you’re holding on. Ujjaii breathing is a conscious and gentle way to release and lengthen the breath, encouraging the diaphragm to relax and join in with the breath. Be aware if you tend to hold your tummy in – let it go to liberate the breath.

Another aspect is to  cultivate confidence. When you stand, be aware of how you are. In your mind, imagine standing ‘as if’, as if you were a mountain (tadasana or standing is mountain posture), feel the strength, dignity, power, deep supporting roots to the earth, light, clear, floating at the crown of the head, relax your shoulders down, allow the chest to blossom gently open to deepen the breathing. Stand as if you were your greatest hero, as if you were someone who already has the confidence you need. And slowly, as you pretend, the chemistry of your body changes, hormones are produced and it quietly becomes true from the inside. I believe they say ‘fake it till you make it’ in the US.

For ultimate confidence on the spot, choose warrior postures, especially warrior II. Looking along your outstretched arm, you can sense the calm confidence inside you need to face whatever is in your gaze on the horizon. Focus your eyes softly,with a relaxed gaze. You don’t need to strain and push, just be. Simply be.

That is all you need to find your calm strength in this world…

Next time, yoga for healthy backs.

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