Table of Contents
Preface ix
Introduction: Yoga's Role in Emotional Balance 1
Part 1 The Path to Emotional Balance 11
1 Understanding Anxiety and Depression 13
Breath Exercise: Getting to Know Your Breath 28
Body Exercise: Distinguishing between Tension and Relaxation 31
2 What Gets in the Way of Change 34
Breath Exercise: 1:1 Breathing 48
Body Exercise: The Five-Minute Body Check-in 50
3 How True Healing Happens 55
Breath Exercise: 1:2 Breathing 72
Body Exercise: Going Up the Stairs Backward 75
4 Five Ways to Transform Your Emotional Patterns 78
Breath Exercise: Worrying and 1:2 Breathing 103
Body Exercise: Getting to Know Restorative Yoga 105
5 Finding Meaning in Anxiety and Depression 108
Breath Exercise: Going with the Flow of Emotions 128
Body Exercise: Inhabiting Your Body with Kindness 130
Part 2 Breathwork and Restorative Yoga 135
6 What's Your Emotional Type? 137
7 The Heart of the Practice 149
8 Anxiety-Balancing Practice 164
9 Depression-Lifting Practice 189
10 Mixed Anxiety and Depression Stabilizing Practices 212
Epilogue 215
Acknowledgments 218
Appendix A Frequently Asked Questions 222
Appendix B Prop Resource Guide 227
Notes 235