Yogis Anonymous

Yoga for Depression/Anxiety

Video

Preview: Yoga for Depression/Anxiety

General Beginner

By

Ally Hamilton

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Published on May 11, 2017

When you're feeling low or anxious, just getting out of bed and on your mat can be a struggle, but there's no doubt that moving around, syncing up your breath with your movement, and gently opening the heart and hips will help to disrupt the cycle! Build just a little heat with me, and then open up the front and back of the body. Heart openers (backbends) help with depression, and forward folds are very calming for the nervous system, ESPECIALLY if you focus on breathing deeply, and exhaling fully. You are not alone. Let's do this together. Much love, and remember, feelings are not forever!

74 minutes

Calm, Open, and Balanced

By Ally Hamilton on Nov 19, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

We open with a short (7 minute) talk about yoga philosophy including the Yama and Niyama, in particular ahimsa, satya, svadhyaya, and the concept of non-attachment. Also the very human experience of being attached to loved ones and their well-being. Then we head into a flow that targets the hips, shoulders and hamstrings. We have some deep core strengthening, and opportunities to play with tripod headstand variations and arm balances including firefly and bhujapidasana. We close the practice with alternate nostril breathing so you walk away from your mat feeling calm and balanced. Love to all xx
65 minutes

Breathe + Stay Curious

By Ally Hamilton on Nov 1, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

This practice opens with a short (4 minute) talk about attachment and non-attachment, the sandwich generation, loss, grief, change - and how cultivating curiosity is the best and easiest way to move through it all (which doesn't mean it's easy, just easier). We then move into a dancing warrior flow that targets hip and shoulder opening, standing balance, core strength, backbends, deep stretching, and inversions. Try to stay curious about what you're feeling as you move from shape to shape, and let your deep breath be the foundation. Quick note - we are replacing a mixer, but I went ahead and filmed without it. I know the sound is a little echo-y, but I don't think it will be distracting. Love to all as we navigate whatever losses come our way x
37 minutes

Yin, Breath, Bliss

By Ally Hamilton on Oct 18, 2024

Yin Beginner

Hello friends! This is a calming, grounding yin practice with breath-work. If you're dealing with anxiety, racing thoughts, insomnia, or just generally feel like your nervous system needs a reboot, join me. This is a great evening practice, but you can use it anytime you want a deep stretch, especially for the hips and hamstrings - though the shoulders get some love here, too. Yin yoga is about long holds - really allowing the muscles, fascia and tissue around the joints to release - and when you add deep, conscious breath along with curiosity about sensation, you have something extra potent and special. 2 blocks may be very helpful. This is not a heat-building practice, so please listen to your body and don't force anything. Enjoy x
63 minutes

Slow, Steady, Sweet

By Ally Hamilton on Oct 5, 2024

Hatha Intermediate

I filmed this for you on a day when I am a little depleted. I've been fighting something for a few days and wanted to give you a practice for days like this, too! This is a slow, mindful practice with long holds and deep, conscious breath. We open the hips, hamstrings and shoulders. There is s standing sequence and some standing balance, and lots of nice, juicy stretching on the floor. This is great as an evening practice after a long day, for anytime you're feeling anxious, it's a sweet practice when you're on your cycle, but it's also great for any time you need something nurturing, grounding, and deep. You may want a block or two, and you may benefit from a strap. Enjoy, yogis.
58 minutes

Cows, Monkeys + Fireflies

By Ally Hamilton on Sep 17, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

Hello from the Practice Garden! Why haven't we been filming out here lately?! I don't know, but this was beautiful. This is an hour-long flow that targets hamstring and shoulder opening with a lot of love for the hips and core, and includes fun arm balances like crow pose, bhujapidasana and firefly pose, and a tripod headstand with lotus legs if you're in the mood. The pace is steady, this is not a 4-alarm fire, but rather a nice, heat-building pace with time for conscious breath and long holds. Enjoy, yogis!@blocks may be helpful but aren't strictly necessary unless you need to "lift the floor up"! You might want a strap for cow-face pose if your shoulders require patience and care.
44 minutes

Hips + Core Galore

By Ally Hamilton on Aug 23, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

If you're looking for a fun, let's get right to it flow with a focus on core strength, hip opening, and some fun hip and core centered arm balances, look no further :) We play with koundinyasana 2 and eight angle pose, and I break them down so everyone has a way to approach. Part of every arm balance and inversion is core strength and upper body strength, but you also have to understand the relationship between counter-balance and your center of gravity. Ready to play, sweat, breathe and feel great in 44 minutes? LFG!!
62 minutes

LFG Flow

By Ally Hamilton on Aug 5, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

Sometimes it's a struggle to get to your mat and you can almost talk yourself out of it, but 9 times out of 10 if you just start moving, you'll be so happy you did! This is a flow for those days - days when you aren't sure you have the energy but know you'll feel better if you do your yoga! This is an all-over, feel-good flow where we open the shoulders, hips and hamstrings, fire up the core, play with side plank and tripod headstand - both with advanced variations if you're ready- and always with reminders to breathe deeply. You'll end up in a sweet savasana thanking yourself for practicing! Ready? LFG!! You may want a block, you may not need one :)
40 minutes

Full-Body Fun in 40

By Ally Hamilton on Jul 15, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

Need a shorter practice but want it all? I feel you! This is a full-body flow with lots of deep breathing and hip, hamstring and shoulder-opening. Core strengthening - but of course - a little arm balancing, back-bending and some deep stretching before savasana. Walk away from your mat feeling grounded, with a quiet mind, open heart, and free flow of breath and energy. Guaranteed goodness, enjoy yogis! A couple of blocks may be helpful if you need them to "lift the floor up" :)
71 minutes

Yin for the Win

By Ally Hamilton on Jul 6, 2024

Yin Intermediate

Do you need some serious nervous system decompression and a really deep stretch? Well, look no further because that's what we're doing in this session that is all about hip, hamstring and shoulder opening along with conscious breath and moment-to-moment curiosity about sensation. You may want props - a blanket for some of the hip and hamstring opening, a strap if you want to use it for bound angle in savanna, and a couple of blocks in case you need to "lift the floor up" - but you may not need them. This is a great practice for evening, before bed, or anytime you want to get really grounded.
68 minutes

Breathe, Focus, Sweat

By Ally Hamilton on Jun 17, 2024

Vinyasa Flow Intermediate

The more you breathe, the better you're going to feel. That is the focus in this sweaty, heat-building, core-strengthening, arm-balancing and mindful flow where we get upside down, open everything up and play with lots of fun poses like lotus if that's approachable for you, firefly pose and bhujapidasana, crow pose, tripod headstand, handstand and more. This is an all-over feel good flow with an emphasis on hip-opening and focus. Enjoy! (2 blocks may be helpful, along with a bolster or firm couch pillow :))

Yoga for Depression/Anxiety

Video

Preview: Yoga for Depression/Anxiety

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