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Home > yoga studio

Yoga for Depression and Anxiety

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January 27, 2017 by mint-sk

Winter time—its with cold temperatures, short days, and holiday expectations—can stir up latent feelings of anxiety and depression.  In general, yoga is a great practice to turn to when you want to regulate or work on your mood.  As yogi and author of Yoga for Depression Amy Weintraub notes, “It’s impossible to be obsessing about your problems when you are paying attention to the details of your alignment.”  I highly recommend Weintraub’s book for anyone interested in the topic of using yoga to alleviate depression or anxiety. yoga pose

Here’s the Cliff Notes—different poses have different effects on the mind and parasympathetic nervous system.  Some are better for combating anxiety, some depression, and some are beneficial for both.  For example, while yoga teachers will often recommend seated forward folds to help ground their anxious students, but they would not suggest this pose for someone suffering from severe depression.  “If you’re already feeling empty and lethargic, sitting with the head down so still and quite can make you feel worse,” states senior Iyengar Teacher Patricia Walden.

For depression, backbends, mountain pose (tadasana) and inversions are great options.  Going upside-down with inversions (like headstand and handstand) helps shift perspective.  Standing tall and strong in mountain pose forces one to exude confidence and purpose (tadasana).

For anxiety, a child’s pose (balasana) is a crowd favorite among yogis. If you suffer from anxiety or insomnia, a few minutes of deep, calming breaths in child’s pose really helps support the parasympathetic nervous system and relax your body and mind.

For students who suffer from depression combined with anxiety, Weintraub suggests a hard, energetic workout to get the heart beating and burn off lingering anxiety, with a long, grounding cool-down.

You can read more about different yoga techniques for dealings with anxiety and depression in Amy Weintraub’s book, Yoga For Depression:  A Compassionate Guide to Relieve Suffering Through Yoga (New York: 2004).  For inspiration, I would also suggest checking out Rachel Brathen’s Yoga Girl (New York: 2014), and Ana T. Forrest’s Fierce Medicine:  Breakthrough Practices to Heal the Body and Ignite the Spirit (New York: 2011).

Reading about yoga is a great way to learn more about the practice, but taking a class is a great way to explore the practice “in-action” under the tutelage of a trained yoga instructor; check out MINT’s yoga offerings, here.

Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle.  When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney.  She is also a MINT Ambassador.
Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle. When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney. She is also a MINT Ambassador.

Filed Under: Club News Tagged With: balance, dc yogis, health, practice, strength, wellness, yoga, yoga studio, yogis

Exciting Yoga Programming Updates!

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October 2, 2016 by mint-sk

Calling all MINT yogis! We’re excited to announce FIVE new yoga classes, all of which will start this weekend (October 8 and 9).

The first three classes, which will take place on Saturdays, are geared towards young families at MINT (prenatal yoga and MINTkids classes!) The next two classes, which will happen on Sundays, are for yogi newbies and yoga lovers who need some extra time to sleep in on Sundays! Read on for more details!

NEW on Saturdays:

  • Mamas at MINT – Prenatal Yoga – Sunday class recently moved to Saturday at 9 in the main studio at MINT Dupont with Kate Miller. Prenatal yoga gives mamas the important time and space to relax and feel more comfortable with their changing bodies, as well as to deepen the growing relationship with their baby. This class is open to all levels of yoga experience, during any stage of pregnancy. Each class includes alignment based yoga instruction to help with the common aches and pains associated with with being pregnant. While building strength and flexibility in the body, concentration and mindfulness techniques will help prepare for birth and parenthood. This class is lead by Kate Miller, certified prenatal yoga teacher, professional birth doula and childbirth educator. As a birth worker, Kate weaves her knowledge of comfort measures and laboring techniques into her classes. If you’re expecting, you won’t want to miss this class to help support your pregnancy, birth and baby!
  • MINTkids: Yoga for Movers and Tots (crawling – age 4) – new time, new location, new teacher! Saturdays, 10:15 am in the new Barre Studio at MINT Dupont with Moriah Childers. Yoga for Tots is a class for crawlers, movers, and preschoolers along with parent or care-giver. Explore yoga together! Learn yoga songs, games and poses that you will enjoy together and be able to practice at home! For children from crawling to age 4.
  • MINTkids: Yoga for Big Kids (age 4 to 6) – new class for MINT’s slightly older kiddos. Saturdays, 11:15 in the new Barre Studio at MINT Dupont with Moriah Childers. Yoga for Big Kids is a class for kids around 4 years old and up with a care-giver. Older siblings are welcome, but please let your instructor know first. Explore yoga together! Learn yoga songs, games and poses that you will enjoy together and be able to practice at home!
 jackyoga

NEW on Sundays:

  • Fundamentals of Flow (beginners welcome!) – new class to introduce students to the basics of vinyasa flow class, Sundays, 10 am (i hour) in the main studio at MINT Dupont with Kristin Adair.
  • Vinyasa Flow (mixed levels) – Sunday flow class with adjustments for all levels, Sunday, 11:10 am (75 min) the main studio at MINT Dupont with Kristin Adair. We will start this class as mixed levels and if we find that we can ramp up to a more intermediate or advanced class we can make that adjustment as needed.

Both of these classes (and all yoga classes at MINT) are included with MINT class-access memberships. Non-members can purchase our traditional class packages.

yogastudio

Learn more about our yoga program, our amazing yoga instructors and browse our full yoga schedule at both studios here.

Filed Under: Club News, Fitness, Studio Tagged With: DC, dc yogis, MINT Dupont, MINTyoga, Washington, yoga, yoga studio, yogis

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MINT Dupont

1724 California St. NW | Washington, DC 20009
202.470.5238