Calming Practice: How Yoga Can Help You Cope With Anger

We all experience anger from time to time, but when our anger is out of control, it becomes destructive. When it dominates our thoughts, it can lead to problems in all of our relationships. It can ruin the quality of our lives and make us feel like we have no control. With a little help, though, we can take control of it.

Recognize Your Anger Issues

If anger is a frequent problem for you or someone in your household, you may want to seek help. Anger can spring from low self-esteem or persistent feelings of frustration. Other than lingering in your mind, it can be displayed through both words and actions and can even lead to violence. If you have behavioral issues that you can’t control, you may need to sit down with a therapist or someone else who specializes in your particular issues and talk it out.

Turn to Yoga

While yoga is not necessarily a complete fix, the ancient practice can help you to de-stress and relax. The mindfulness of yoga practice helps us get mentally and emotionally grounded. Don’t try to force away the anger. Instead of screaming or doing something destructive, channel your physical energy into yoga postures and deep breathing. It’s a really simple thing to do and will help you in the long run.

Focus on the Present

Mindfulness lets you explore your anger so that you can channel it, especially by focusing on the Manipura Chakra of the solar plexus, where strong emotions like anger, anxiety, and fear are centered.

This is not something that is easily achieved all at once or on the first try. You should dedicate ten to fifteen minutes every day to this so that you can learn the self-control that yoga requires. As you gain the patience that is needed to participate in this activity, you will start to master the skill of mindfulness. Whenever you come across situations that make you angry, you will be prepared. All you will have to do is turn your inner self towards mindfulness.

To help you on your path to living peacefully and without anger, here are three exercises that you can do each day.

Exercises

If you simply sit still and breathe when you are very angry, it may actually focus that anger into something worse. Burn off any feelings of violence with some physical activity, especially core/abdominal exercises. When that anger feels less urgent, then approach yoga.

Lie flat on your back and lift your arms straight into the air. Make fists and allow yourself to feel anger. Bring your fists in toward your chest as you inhale. When they reach your chest, exhale explosively and relax. Keep repeating this until there is no anger left.

Follow this with at least 3-5 minutes of the Corpse Pose: Close the eyes and lie flat. Do what you must to work out the stress from each body part until you can lie in a state of total relaxation. Be mindful of your entire body—even your tongue, your eyes, and your brain should feel relaxed.

Yoga is a discipline for empowering you with more control over your life. Anger may be normal, but yoga can help refocus it into acceptance and personal insights. Can you imagine your life without so much anger? If not, then the three exercises above are definitely what you need in your life.

As you journey into the world of yoga, you will experience a sense of self-mastery, a personal power over your own emotions, and be more able to handle every circumstance that life throws at you. Are you ready for that?

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