Is yoga a good way to channel anger

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#6

I have a teacher who was once a heroin addict, once he overcame his addiction he found he had a lot of anger and frustration, he tried to ‘let it out’ upon his therapists advise by being super active… punching trees, running for hours, exercising his heart out… but he found it only provided fuel for his anger… This kind of fuel or fire we can build is known as ‘tapas’ in yoga speak… it can be a good thing… but if you already feel you have alot of it inside of you… maybe moving towards a more ‘satvic’ approach could be beneficial. In yoga philosophy a Satvic life is created to calm ourselves down and bring ourselves to a more meditative state… This teacher of mine adjusted his diet to more satvic foods (you can easily google this and find out about that kind of food…) and began a more gentle restorative satvic type of hatha yoga… so rather than trying to work through his anger… until he was hopefully worn out… he tried to just slowly bring it all down a notch… it worked! he is an amazing man and an amazing teacher!

AumshantiAum

#7

thanks so much for the suggestions it is not only to channel anger an frustration it is also a way for me to get way from the daily rountines of the day and have some me time

#8

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;39617]
For students that live very fiery lives, running, over-scheduled, managing many things, going, going, going, on the phone, on the computer, on the plane, in the car, here then there…for that sort of person whose intention is to balance that energy I’d suggest a calm, mindful, slower practice. This same person who intends only to heap on to their current living, that person would likely choose a practice that is more like their life - externally heated, constantly moving, aggressive, physical, superficially challenging.

Likewise, for a student who barely moves, has a tough time getting going, slithers from here to there, leads a life with more gaps in the schedule (a non-type a person) THAT person who wishes balance might choose a more active practice. Again, this person who wants to heap on to their current living would choose a slow, slow, methodical, laying around sort of practice.
[/QUOTE]

Great words of wisdom :slight_smile:

#9

I think Yoga is an excellent way to relieve anger and stress.
From my experience, I am often stressed or frustrated by events or circumstances in my life and Yoga is always effective as relieving this. But I think if you are looking to release your anger then Yogasans alone is not necessarily the best way. What I find works for me is to release negative energy through some sort of generic physical activity first. Sometimes when I need to get out some tension or aggression I do things like short sprints back and forth, explosive leaping, jumping like a frog, karate or tae-bo like movements, kicking, spinning, jumping, rolling, basically anything I feel like. I find it is like opening the flood gates and more and more energy starts pouring out. But I only do this as long as I feel like it. I don’t force anything. And then I find that as soon as all that energy is out my movement starts to become more graceful and yoga like, and I start to feel like doing YogAsans rather than jumping or punching the air. Then I do Yoga for as long as I feel like.
Sometimes I am angry or stressed but physically just not up for such intense activity as I mentioned above. In those cases I find dance extremely helpful. I find that dance releases tension and as I go I start to become more and more calm, peaceful, content, and centered in the moment. Then I again go into Yogasans.
I think that if you were angry and went right into doing Asans then you might try to express your anger in your movements which I think has the potential to be bad. You may push yourself too hard or hold things for longer then is beneficial, or you just might not have patience or the necessary attentiveness to get the best out of your yoga practice.
But in general Yoga lowers my stress level and makes me more content all the time. Regular Yoga practice will make it so that stuff doesn’t bother you so much in the first place.

#10

Ted’s post opens up some other questions. The first of which is “if our ability to cope with emotions is rooted (only) in the physical (leaping, dancing, sprinting) then how will we cope in those periods of our living where the physical is not possible?”.

It also opens my favorite of questions, “how, in some minds, is asana equated with yoga?”. Or put another way, yes a Yoga practice is helpful for such things. An asana practice, not so much.

While it is very clear that large muscle activity has a profound effect on our brain chemistry AND thus is very important to maintain, that has very little to do with Yoga. And while a raw beginner (in today’s context) starts with asana rather than yama and niyama, I would direct a student to (eventually) cultivate a more sound and efficacious approach to dealing with feelings.

#11

Well, I think that the body and mind are more closely related than alot of people generally think. In fact I think that in terms of Prana, the body and mind are part of the same thing. I think that all of us are going to be prone to feelings of anger or frustration, or stress and worry, or any of the unpleasant states of mind which occur in regular life. Surely the ultimate solution is to cultivate faith and detachment, so that wordly things don’t bother us and we remain situated in the knowledge that everything is God’s play. But that is the final goal, and it is not a simple thing to attain, and we must take small steps toward it. I think that if physical activity can alleviate negative feelings, then it not only helps in that moment, but it also effects the way we react to things in the future. For instance, if something happens and we react by being upset, but then are able to get over being upset through physical activity and asans, then we will realize that the original source of our negative reaction is not so bad after all if it was so easy to get over. It gives us perspective and fortitude to go forward.
I agree that Yam and Niyam are obviously extremely important, and are really the whole key to happiness in life and ultimately liberation. But Yogasans are definitely also very important, because in my opinion they make Yam and Niyam easier to practice by bringing out those qualities in us. I saw one of your other posts that said that Yoga does not make you a better person, it makes you more of what you are, and in a way I agree. I have also met some people who for them, Yoga is just a reason to be more arrogant and selfish. But in general I think what we are is good, and so if Yoga brings that out then that is also good thing too. Yogasans strengthen our prana, which brings out the qualities of our inner divine nature. I know some people practice asans and don’t become better people, but I do not believe that all Yogasan practices are equal. I know that some people perform Asans and routines in ways which are just not as effective as they could be, if at all. Some people neglect breathing altogether, so they are only doing gymnastics, and some people do only breathing, but without the purificatory power of asans their results will be limited. Some people don’t have the proper information, guidance, persistence, or most importantly attitude and goals when practicing Yogasans, and so the effectiveness of their practice will be limited. But this does not mean that Asans themselves are ineffective.
I think if a person is practicing diligently with effective techniques then their prana will be strengthened and they guarunteed to feel beneficial effects. In my experience I have seen most people say they are simply happier and feel better after Yoga practice. When a person feels this way, they are just more likely to embody the Yams and Niyams in my opinion. Yam and Niyam are difficult to practice perfectly, so if through Asans a person can put themselves in a better mind frame then they should certainly take advantage of it.

#12

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;39649] “if our ability to cope with emotions is rooted (only) in the physical (leaping, dancing, sprinting) then how will we cope in those periods of our living where the physical is not possible?”[/QUOTE]

Valid question, if coping is solely rooted in the physical. But, as a first step the physical can lay the pathway to understanding and coping with negative emotions, much like the physical work of clearing the brush in order to find a path out of the forest.

Anger is emotion of intense energy. One way to release the pressure and to open the valve is physical activity. There are many others, but their effectiveness is enhanced by physical activity. The release of that energy and the accompanying endorphic effects in the brain and body can leave you open to dealing with the source of the negative emotions. Learning this next step will arm us in coping with emotions when physical is not possible.

I believe yoga can provide a platform to achieve this. And, from my own experience, the ‘fiery’ physical asanas were more effective in releasing the strong energy, calming my mind and leaving me more receptive to dealing with my negative emotions.

#13

Boxing bag :slight_smile: I use one. Make sure to get good quality gloves, as well as wraps for your hands so not to injure your knuckles. The boxing and yoga are good complements to each other.

#14

I don’t see yoga as away to get the anger out, but more as a way to make someone a lot more mellow. At least that’s how I feel. Whatever negative emotions I have before a yoga practice are usually worked out by the end. If I’m angry, which is unusual, but if I am, it’s more like I forget about it than it is that I express it and “get it out.”

#15

InnerAthlete, thanks for your comment, ‘typically yoga makes you more of what you are’. After a long time, some statement that hit me. You are very experienced, especially with Yoga training, and that must be your observation. I am going through my own Yoga journey and trying to figure out why it must be happening that way.

Before I think about it more, can you please tell me-

  1. if these self-absorbed, arrogant people continue with their Yoga practice or they feel that they “have arrived” and find no need to practice any more
  2. if such people ask lot of questions for the sake of asking hence, not paying attention to the answers
  3. can these people really meditate
  4. if these people get frustrated when they can’t do an asana like the instructor

I will really appreciate your input. Thanks.

#16

Thanks for all the good feed back but I think I said it in wrong context when I said anger I mean the stress and frustation of one’s day.I am loking for a way to mellow out and destress for the busy and hetic work life, I am also making some positive changes in my life and that another reason why I was thinkng about doing yoga but again thanks for the meaningful advice about how to deal with anger. I would be looking forward to your replies on if its a good why to destress

#17

[QUOTE=toya;39716]Thanks for all the good feed back but I think I said it in wrong context when I said anger I mean the stress and frustation of one’s day.I am loking for a way to mellow out and destress for the busy and hetic work life, I am also making some positive changes in my life and that another reason why I was thinkng about doing yoga but again thanks for the meaningful advice about how to deal with anger. I would be looking forward to your replies on if its a good why to destress[/QUOTE]

Relaxation is an integral part of yogic practice.

Just lay comfortably on your back, close your eyes and begin to tense up and release each part of your body…starting with your toes and feet, then working your way up your body to your face and head…just breathe in and hold…tense up…breathe out and relax…

Each time you tense up a part, feel all of the stress in that part of the body. As you release/relax, feel all that stress just dissipate.
When you are tensing up your hands into fists, feel the rage, the anger…then, as you relax your hands, just let it all go…

Yoga can help you release anger, but only if you are mindful of why you are angry and in what part of your body that anger is stored.
Then, as you do each asana, breathe into the posture and as you release yourself from each posture, release all of that anger and stress stored there.

Yoga is not just a physical discipline, it’s a mental one as well.

I hope this helped.

#18

[QUOTE=toya;39610]Thanks do you have any suggestions on what type I should looking into as a beginner.[/QUOTE]

Welcome to the Forum!

If you are here - this IS your first step on the self improvement path:).

I would suggest just practice. It is not like pill… long lasting effect requires quite prolonged work:)

Also there are so many paths, but one destination. You need to find out what works better for you.

Yoga practice creates greater awareness, it might sounds wired for now, BUT:

Be patient and you will get rewarded.

#19

[QUOTE=toya;39607]Hi I am new to this forum and I am thinking about doing yoga, i am looking for a way to channel my anger and frustration. I have given his is a lot of thought and thinks it is a good way for me to find out who I really am and what I want for myself in life right now… So I am looking for some advice if u think yoga is a good way to channell thay anger and where can i find a good yoga studio in toronto…[/QUOTE]

What in particular makes you angry??

#20

Is yoga a good way to channel anger…like hitting a punching bag? No. Can asanas help to deal with anger? Maybe, if anger is not too all consuming and distracting from your practice.

A few people have alluded to yama and niyama and the mental aspects of yoga. Raja Yoga contains specific guidance on dealing with emotions like anger. The basic technique is cultivation of the opposite. Typically when you are angry, don’t you think of ways to hurt or get even with whatever or whoever is making you angry? The opposite, then is the yama of [I]ahimsa[/I] or non-harming. In western terms, this practice might be stated as love your enemy or forgiveness.

It does not stop there, though. Ultimately one has to take responsiblility. This is the yama of truthfulness. One has to search out the root causes for disturbing emotions. These root causes are known as klesas. First, you need to learn what they are, then you need to learn to recognize them in yourself, then you can start to cultivate the opposites.

#21

[QUOTE=CityMonk;39782]What in particular makes you angry??[/QUOTE]

The day to day trials of the work day and just the frustration of reach those goals you set to accomplished

#22

Hi Toya,

Anger should be nourished and recognised through mindful awareness in order to resolve it, trying to force it out or away will not resolve it. Whenever we feel angry we feel out of control, like we are bad people, or perhaps unreasonable, which is not the case, anger is simply a symptom of repressed trauma or emotion. Anger can be very useful, if we are able to make sense of it.

Something that might help you find out what type of yoga to go for, is to determine your Dosha, which are different Ayurvedic mind and body types. This will in turn also help you to determine which style of yoga works well with your unique constitution…very interesting stuff!

I can relate to your situation, so I thought I would share a little insight with you based on what I have so far discovered and learnt on my own journey.

Warm wishes.

#23

[QUOTE=CityMonk;39781]Welcome to the Forum!

If you are here - this IS your first step on the self improvement path:).

I would suggest just practice. It is not like pill… long lasting effect requires quite prolonged work:)

Also there are so many paths, but one destination. You need to find out what works better for you.

Yoga practice creates greater awareness, it might sounds wired for now, BUT:

Be patient and you will get rewarded.[/QUOTE]

Yes I am here… thanks for the positive advice… Yes this is a big step to positivitity in my life, more opporunities have opened up for me and I am gradually adjusting to this change…

#24

[QUOTE=omamana;39975]Hi Toya,

Anger should be nourished and recognised through mindful awareness in order to resolve it, trying to force it out or away will not resolve it. Whenever we feel angry we feel out of control, like we are bad people, or perhaps unreasonable, which is not the case, anger is simply a symptom of repressed trauma or emotion. Anger can be very useful, if we are able to make sense of it.

Something that might help you find out what type of yoga to go for, is to determine your Dosha, which are different Ayurvedic mind and body types. This will in turn also help you to determine which style of yoga works well with your unique constitution…very interesting stuff!

I can relate to your situation, so I thought I would share a little insight with you based on what I have so far discovered and learnt on my own journey.

Warm wishes.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the insight, I did do a little research on what type of yoga I want to do but I had a little set back I sprain my ankle and when I am able to start I will let u all know how my first class and experience went

#25

[QUOTE=toya;39607]Hi I am new to this forum and I am thinking about doing yoga, i am looking for a way to channel my anger and frustration. I have given his is a lot of thought and thinks it is a good way for me to find out who I really am and what I want for myself in life right now… So I am looking for some advice if u think yoga is a good way to channell thay anger and where can i find a good yoga studio in toronto…[/QUOTE]

YES it absolutely is but I would recommend buying a dvd or book and practice at home on your own. Because sometimes a studio can be frustraing if you compare yourself to the other students

also very very important is begin to do a daily meditation it will help more than just the yoga alone