How to get over the pain of heart-break using Yoga !

Falling in love and having a relationship are two different things. Sometimes, no matter how much you can try to make your relationship work, it seems like it's just not meant to be. An unexpected & unwanted breakup can cause considerable psychological distress. Whatever the reason of split - and whether you wanted it or not - the breakup of a relationship can turn the whole world upside down and trigger all sorts of painful & unsettling feelings. 

Going through a breakup might also create sleeplessness, weight gain & overall decreased critical thinking. There is rumbling of feel good natural chemicals like dopamine & oxytocin, and steady release of stress hormone cortisol.

Our brain appears to process relationship breakups similarly to physical pain. So people may experience a craving for their ex-partners similarly to the way addicts crave a drug they are withdrawing from. 

'Let Go ' - how often you have heard these words, how simple these words are, how difficult they are to follow. 

A breakup can be the most devastating phase of your life! Or, the most eye opening! Surprised? It's your perspective that will make you look at your breakup in a positive or negative manner.

Well, In this age of technology, the ancient practice of yoga can help. There are few yoga asanas which can help in overcoming the situation. 

1. The Eagle pose ( Garudasana) 

Eagle pose helps the nervous system to reset your mood & fight the feeling of grief. It increases endorphin levels. 

Step by step 

• Stand erect. Bend your knees slightly, lift your left foot up & balancing on your right foot, cross your left thigh over right. Point your left toes towards the floor , press the foot back, and then hook the top of the foot behind the lower right calf. Balance on the right foot. 

• Stretch your arms forward, parallel to the floor, & spread your scapular wide across the back of the torso. Cross the arms in front of your torso so that the right arm is on the left, then bend your elbows. Snug the right elbow into the crook of the left, and raise the forearms perpendicular to the floor. The back of your hands should be facing each other. 

• Press the right hand to the right and left hand to left, so that palms are now facing each other. The thumb of the right hand should pass in front of the little finger of the left. Now press palms together, lift elbows & stretch fingers towards the ceiling .

•Stay for 30seconds & then unwind the legs and arms. 

2. Child pose ( Balasana) 

Step by step 

•With your head down on a yoga mat , let your hip sink back so you are sitting on your calf bones & feet. 

• Stretch your arms straight out ahead of you or rest them at hands. 

• Feel your back broadening & contracting with your breath, allowing tension to release from your body & mind 

• hold this pose for a couple of minutes. 

How it works: 

Helps us in deep exhalations as we hold the posture and breathe. They create space in the spinal vertebrae thus improving blood circulation to all nerves. Forward bends massage your internal organs like abdomen, kidney, liver etc & help you to exhale completely, thus calming your mind. 

3. Camel pose 

Step by step 

• Kneel down on a folded yoga mat or blanket. 

•  Place your palms on your lower back on each side of your spine. 

• Draw your elbows towards each other, letting your upper body point back onto the comfortable back band. 

• Deepen area throughout your shoulders & chest with 5-7 breaths. 

• Rest in child pose for some time. 

4. Headstand ( Sirsasana)

Step by step 

• Place the elbows on the ground with fingers of both the hands intertwined into each other. 

•  Place your head on hands. 

•  Bring your knees as close to face as possible. 

• Now take one leg up followed by other.

• With the legs folded, hold on to this position for a while 

• Now lift the legs straight up the body so that it comes in line with the head 

• Hold on to this position for a while.

• come back using same steps. 

How it works 

It helps to reverse the blood flow, lowering heart rate & helps in aligning of the spine . Holding inversions is a great stress buster as it rejuvenate our mind and body . 

5. The corpse posture ( Savasana) 

It seems like the easiest pose but it is considered one of the most challenging asanas & is recommended to practice at the end 

Step by step 

• Lie on your back ( close your eyes ) & relax your muscles, moving the awareness from your toes all up to your head. 

•  Become aware of your entire back & body weight as you inhale & exhale. 

•  Begin to count from 10 to 1 in your head with every exhalation, breathing as naturally as you can.

• At the count of 1 slowly turn to your right & sit up. 

• Rub your hands & when warm, place them on eyes & look into your palms as you open your eyes. 

How it works 

It re channelises the neural circuits. 

6. Breathing exercises ( pranayama) 

A) Nadi shodan ( alternate nostril breathing)  

Step by step 

• Sit comfortably and bring your attention to your breath. Spend a few minutes breathing naturally

• Create Vishnu mudra with either your right or left hand 

• You will begin this pranayama by inhaling in both nostrils and then exhaling out of one nostril. This is accomplished by closing off one of the nostrils using either the thumb or the ring finger. If it is before noon, you will exhale out the left nostril first, and if it is after 12 noon, you will exhale out the right nostril first.

• You will then inhale in the same nostril you just exhaled from and switch nostrils using either the thumb or the ring finger and exhale the opposite nostril. Inhale in that same nostril and switch before exhaling out the other nostril. For example: Inhale in both nostrils. Close off the right nostril with your thumb (let’s assume you are right- handed) and exhale out the left nostril. Inhale through the left nostril and close it off with your ring finger and exhale out the right nostril. Inhale through the right nostril and close it off again using the thumb and exhale out the left nostril. Continue this for several minutes. Conclude by exhaling out the opposite nostril that you first exhaled from.

B) Brahmari pranayama  (bee breath ) 

One of the best technique for calming mind . 

Steps 

• You sit or lie down & close your ears with thumb. 

•  Rest your index finger on your forehead & let the remaining fingers rest on your eyes .

• Inhale through your nose & when exhaling make a bee like humming sound [Ohmmm].

• Repeat a few times & after each exhalation , become aware of healing vibrations as your body and mind resonates with it . 

7. Meditation 

We are able to re energise ourself again & again ,whenever we want.

A regular 20minutes practice of meditation releases BDNF (brain derived nerve factors )& endorphins(feel good hormones).Meditation helps in regeneration of brain cells & increases our cognitive abilities. It clears us from negative vibes & fills us with enthusiasm. 

8. The Sudarshan kriya 

It is the most effective tool in combating the after effects of the breakup. It's a one-stop solution to easily de-stress.  A daily dose of Sudarshan Kriya in cooperates specific natural rhythms of breath harmonises body  & emotions. This powerful yet simple breathing technique, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, helps eliminate stress leaving mind calm & focused. 

So get on that darn yoga mat, go through above-mentioned steps and walk out to freedom.  After all, a breakup is a good thing, if it can potentially get you in touch with the most important person in your life, YOU.  

A breakup is not the end of the world. In fact, it could be a window to a new beginning. So pick up the pieces the soonest you can, & start living life afresh !!