Health Challenge Stage 2: Mental Health

Here is the second stage (July 12 – 18) of the July 2021 Health Challenge…

As part of this month’s Health Challenge (July 2021), here are some stage 2 initiatives that focus on mental health:

Shavasana / Corpse Posture: Normally, this is done as a reward for completing your full yoga practice. But, for mental health, shavasana is prescribed as a stand alone practice as well. Specifically, for those involved day-long in psychic vocations and endeavors, it is recommended to do 2 min – 10 min of shavasana each day. But the key point is not to fall asleep; napping does not count. Just lie back on your yoga mat, with the arms angled away from the hips with the palms facing upwards, close the keys, slow down the breath, and point the mind inward – quelling all psychic vibrations. One of the aims is to overcome any feelings of uneasiness or restlessness and be able to bask comfortably in a still space. In terms of sound tracks, some gentle music, chimes, or chanting is optional.

==> While the above initiative is calming and healing, the next one is a bit edgy yet highly effective.

Taking the Opposite Stance in Battle: The yogis say that at present human beings have 50 tendencies of mind, known as vrttis in Sanskrit. Some of these vrttis are beneficial and some not. Some of the beneficial vrttis include compassion (karuna), righteousness (dharma), mineness in terms of loving others (mamata) etc, while some of the harmful or degenerating vrttis include doubt (shaunka), anger (krodha), avarice (lobha) etc. The yogis say that to overcome any degrading vrtti, one must take the opposite stance in battle – that means adopting the opposite vrtti. For instance, overcome anger with patience or compassion, depending upon the root cause of that anger, and overcome miserliness with generosity. By adopting the diametrically opposite stance, one will gain control over that degrading vrtti, as opposed to being dominated and consumed by it.

Podcast: Also, I would encourage you to listen to our recent podcast ==> Mental Health: The Yogic Perspective