Hi all, I am fairly new to yoga, been practicing on and off for a year but have gotten a lot more intensive in the past couple of months. I am now looking to deepen my yoga and lead a more yogic life and I am interested in the mental and spiritual side of yoga. I am bipolar and I have heard that yoga helps with depression and stuff like that. does anyone have any advice, information or anything regarding this. I want to imerse myself in a peaceful and beautiful life and so far I can feel my practice taking me there. I just need some guidance. Thanks.
Wow. Big question. Good job.
Your peaceful and beautiful life is something you will make with each decision – including decisions about how to manage or treat a bipolar situation. Having someone to talk to, so you can hear your ideas and concerns and so you can try them out before becoming attached to them, could be just what you need as you seek. Take time to wonder who you are and use time to test and apply that in your daily actions.
“Immerse” is a great word here. It reminds me of the pool I played in when I was quite young, feeling the difference between the water that was participating in surface tension and the water that was in the depths of the pool. And how turbulant the top part was when the young cousins spashed, but how still the depths remained. You might have to move through turbulence in order to find the peace. Please do not allow this to dissuade you.
Also consider any traditions you may have been raised with. You might have to make peace with them our you might find peace in them – and you might be surprised about which you do more of.
A while ago – in my last ‘seeking’ phase – I turned to the old Greek philosophers (well, their writings) with the question that was burning in me: “How does one begin?” The answer I got was, “With something else.” Do not be discouraged that you are not today what you will become. Each step in the journey does its work, whether that is to give you solace or spur you on.
One first step: promise yourself that you will sit still and not answer the phone for a resonable (which might mean ‘small’) amount of time, and consider – what is it that you are immersed in right now? What are your questions or fears or passions or . . .
Just feel them, and breathe.
And keep in touch.
Thank you so much. That was beautiful and moving and definitly gave me a lot to think about. Become spiritual in my life and doing it through a yogic life is something I know I now want and I am definitly in the seeking phase. Thank you so much for your kind words and your reply. I will definitly keep in touch and if anyone else has anything to add please do so I am always open to any ideas. Thanks.
Aum…
Namaste…
as you mentioned you want material and spiritual side of yog, let me please petition you dear soul that spiritual and material things are totally different phenomenon.
Material world is a perverse reflection of Spiritual World.
so before you really get serious you gotta make your mind, the material pleasure or the Spiritual Bliss…
pls. do not get me wrong…i am only repeating the words of the Scriptures…
“Spiritual Horizons are visible only when material dominion is surrendered to Whom it belongs.” (Jagadguru ŚrīKṛpālujī Mahārāj)…
Everyone is bipolar here, some are haunted with lust, some with anger, some with peace and some with pleasure…they all are overcome by a psychological pattern aka mood.
Changing moods are all they are haunted with…so please don’t think you are under some kinda disease…we all are diseased. Unfortunately our diseases is so common that it is not considered as one.
“In the colony of mad all are sane”. (Jagadguru ŚrīKṛpālujī Mahārāj)
“if they knew the difference between their desire and Their need, they’d have stopped following the material creed”. (Jagadguru ŚrīKṛpālujī Mahārāj)
So you are not lonely in this world of 7 billion people…
take care,
make your choices…
cry for a right Guru.
Your Servant,
Rām Kṛpālu dās.
Thank you so much, that was inspiring and beautiful and gave me a lot to think about. I truly appreciate your help.
All Glories to the ONE…without Whom we are none.
Hello
Being bipolar, you must go true negative periods. Highs and lows…
Yoga will help you find a peaceful balance, a peaceful place inside of you. I know a person who is schizophrenic who practices yoga and meditation, and he says it helps him a lot.
Just imerse yourself in the practice and see how it works for you.
I would recommend you try meditation for is psychological benefits.
The problem with a forum like this is that you are likely to be bombarded with all kinds of different advice, which may be a kind of information overload.
First of all, I’d say don’t try to do too much all at once. Find a level of asana practice that you can do comfortably on a regular basis. You should work on stability in your practice, more on, less off. Don’t get me wrong. If you need a break, take it. But I suggest trying to get into a routine in which you practice a little, preferably at the same time every day, or at least most days. If you miss a day or two, its no big deal. Just get back to it.
When you practice, just allow your mind to focus on your movement and breath. That should get you to the peaceful state you are seeking. You need to realize that even the most peaceful plant has to deal with wind and rain sometimes. Try not to let it upset you.
Namaste,
The very nature of yoga is peace, beauty, harmony and balance, so immerse yourself in your yoga and you’ll find yourself right where you want to be. The right teacher will come, don’t fret too much about this. At the moment I am without a teacher, mine retired, but I have found such a wonderful replacement, my two spaniels, the lessons I learn from them is just incredible at the moment.
About the bipolar: yoga will help you with this, not immediately but in the long run you will see a strenghtening of your nervous system, which will assist you in handling your bipolar disorder much better. You may never be able to go without medication, but perhaps with less medication and even reach a point through yoga where you can opt for homeopathic medication instead of allopathic medication (I pressume you are on allopathic medicines). The mosy important part here to remember is that you will hit a low someday again and when you in that low please continue with your yoga, don’t decide in that low to leave it.
Good luck with your path.
Hello radiance
kind of funny, the word intensive, in-tense
Hypothetically, if I could go back in time I would tell myself to
be easier on myself
more accepting of myself
laugh at myself more
most importantly I would strive to enjoy myself more, “flaws” and all
I used to strive to get "there"
The only place i can be is here
please be kind to yourself,
with love
brother Neil