is yoga really helpful in releiving stress and depression?

Absolutely! Yoga IMO is wonderful for relieving stress and depression..I originally started practicing yoga when I was about 8 yrs old and though I gave it up in my teen yrs (which looking back I SHOULDNT have) I took it up again a few yrs back and its really helpful for the mind, body AND spirit...I would definately suggest that you give it a try - meditation is another very beneficial practice IMO as well and works great WITH yoga..

Definitely! Although I don't practise it, my parents do. I belong to India where yoga originated. I've seen definite and positive changes in all who practise yoga but you must have a good teacher who teaches you correctly. Correct yoga is very impotant as doing it wrong might have an adverse effect. Do you have anyone to teach you? You must go for proper yoga classes. Yoga relieves you from all kinds of chronic physical ailments and stress-related problems. But if its depression you are suffering from, I personally think meditation will help a lot. I used to be a chronic patient of depression but I have to a large extent managed to alleviate it through my practise of Buddhism. I think the best thing that happened to me was to encounter Buddhism!

i haven't tried real yoga, just had the short meditation phase in karate back when i was still actively practising. but i know it really relaxes the body, so much that when i tried it a couple of times, i fell asleep, lol!

i have been thinking about the same question these days. i heard about yoga that it was good for health.but i don't how it works. i plan to try it if i can afford the time in the future for the sake of my health

Hi, oh yes it does work and works wonders too. But i speak of a combination of yoga and meditation. My father has the same problem and has been doing a combination of both of these and now hes off his medication all together, all thanks to yoga and meditation. And i have seen him change too, though he does put in an hour of simple walks too. So this does help and i would also suggest to try slow at first,so that you dont tire yourself out, but do practise them as they do help and am sure that within no time, even your medication would stop and make you happier and healthier too.

Yes it does. There are several types of yoga and you want the type that relaxes you not the type that will work your body or stress your muscles. There are many good DVDs out there if you don't like the idea of a group setting (I don't). It teaches you to breathe deeply, relax your muscles, and use your body in a way that cuts down your anxieties and tension. Tai Chi is also supposed to be very good for reducing tension but it is so slow paced that I get nervous, lol. But definitely try a beginner's relaxing yoga DVD. Dim the lights, turn the phone off and just do it for 30 minutes. You'll feel the benefits quickly. Trust me, I am the world's most hyper person and it has helped me to stay calmer and less anxious and to shut my mind off for a while. Good luck.

Well for depression, medicines are not solution. Do Meditation, try breathing exercise, it will help you balance and handle depression.

Welcome to mylot Oh yes it works wonders in many respects, but it takes time, the effect is not instantaneous, you have to do regularly, the best is breathing exercises taught by Ramdev baba of India.. Thanks for sharing. Cheers. Professor. .