Archive for July 22nd, 2008

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga is said to cure almost every ailment known to humankind, but how do we define anger? Some of us feel anger the minute we wake up, while others never seem to let anything bother them. Anger is hard to place on the emotional spectrum, as it arises from a combination of thoughts, emotions, feelings, and circumstances.

Anger can cause wars, holocausts, and crimes of passion. Left unchecked, fits of anger can cause families to break up, job loss, and criminal prosecution. Anger is a volatile emotion that leaves destruction in its wake. So, how could Yoga reduce anger levels?

Yoga practice works on the prevention of negative conditions, when dealing with ailments. Yoga therapy can be practiced, even when a person is afflicted by an ailment. However, it is nearly impossible to practice Yoga and have a temper tantrum at the same time.

This opens the door for Yoga therapy as a method for anger management. Yoga sessions can be structured around techniques that calm the mind. This may also require a private session, instead of the typical Hatha Yoga class in a group setting. The purpose is to create a habit of practicing Yoga at any time of day.

Application of Yogic techniques to daily life does not require a mat. You can mentally practice mantra, prayer, japa, or a positive affirmation without bothering anyone. You can practice sitting up straight or walking in your best alignment. You can also practice Yogic breathing (Pranayama), to calm your mind, at any time, without drawing attention to yourself.

Granted, many people lead busy lives, but there are “windows of time,” where most of us daydream or default toward negative thoughts. The above-mentioned techniques allow our practice to transcend the Yoga mat, and we have not yet discussed meditation.

Once a student has mastered how to meditate, the mind can be trained toward mindfulness, patience, kindness, forgiveness, and tolerance. When you make these qualities become a daily part of your life, you cannot hold onto anger. It is difficult to focus on negative and positive thoughts at the same time.

Therefore, use meditation to cultivate positive energy and positive thoughts. This steers the entire mindset toward happiness and away from anger. Meditation also opens the path toward self-realization. A person who has developed this level of awareness can spot the warning signs of potential anger.

For example: When one feels the need to judge, becomes critical, or feels frustration toward anything, this is “fertile ground” for anger to thrive in. By training the mind with positive thoughts, good posture, calm breathing, and all that Yoga has to offer, the “homework” is done. The end result of a trained mind, thinking in a positive direction, will be happiness and success.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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