Parkinson’s patients are often affected by anxiety and depression symptoms. These feelings of sadness, fatigue, and the desire to be alone are common in Parkinson’s patients.

Extreme depression can impact an individual’s overall quality of life, making it important to find ways to address these symptoms. Yoga can be an effective way to deal with these symptoms, as yoga incorporates both physical and mental exercises that promote a healthier mental state. Hence, this article looks at how yoga can help manage depression in Parkinson’s patients.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease:

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating condition that can drastically impact the life of those affected. It’s a progressive condition that involves the breakdown of dopamine-producing cells in the brain.

As a result, movement becomes difficult, balance is impacted, and tremors arise. These physical symptoms can be challenging to deal with, leading to emotional distress.

Link Between Parkinson’s and Depression:

It’s been observed that individuals with Parkinson’s disease are at a higher risk of developing depression symptoms. This could be due to the impact Parkinson’s has on the nervous system and brain chemistry.

Environmental and psychological factors can also play a role. Depression impacts different aspects of life, including sleep, appetite, energy levels, mood, and overall health.

How Yoga Helps:

Yoga is a combination of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation practices. It has been used as a complementary therapy for treating many health conditions, including Parkinson’s disease.

Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can help Parkinson’s patients stay flexible, improve posture, and reduce tremors. Apart from this, the meditative aspect of yoga can be beneficial for the mind, helping to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.

Physical Benefits:

The physical postures in yoga can help individuals improve their flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. These are all significant concerns for Parkinson’s patients.

Yoga helps Parkinson’s patients combat their physical challenges, which ultimately leads to improved self-esteem, self-confidence, and overall wellbeing.

Mental Benefits:

Yoga offers several mental benefits to help Parkinson’s patients deal with depression symptoms. For instance, yoga emphasizes deep breathing, which can activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

This helps lower stress levels, reduces anxiety, and promotes a sense of calm. Mindfulness meditation, another key component of yoga, can also help Parkinson’s patients manage depression.

This is a practice that involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment, which can help individuals let go of negative thoughts and emotions.

Yoga Poses for Parkinson’s Patients with Depression:

Below are some yoga poses that can be incredibly helpful for Parkinson’s patients experiencing depression symptoms:.

1. Vrikshasana (Tree pose):

This pose involves standing on one foot and placing the sole of the other foot on the opposite inner thigh. It helps Parkinson’s patients improve their balance and posture, which can be very beneficial for coping with tremors.

The pose promotes a calm mind, freeing the individual of anxious and depressive thoughts.

2. Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend):

This pose involves bending forward and touching the toes with the hands while keeping the legs straight. This pose helps Parkinson’s patients stretch their hamstrings as well as relieve stress and anxiety.

This pose promotes a sense of relaxation and calmness.

3. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose):

This pose is a backbend that involves lying face down and pushing the chest upwards. This pose helps Parkinson’s patients to strengthen their back muscles and improve their flexibility.

This pose promotes a sense of relaxation, calmness, and relieves stress and anxiety.

4. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog pose):

This pose involves forming a V-shape with the body while keeping the hands and feet on the floor. This pose helps Parkinson’s patients to improve their circulation, release tension in the spine, and helps balance breathing with movement.

This pose promotes a sense of relaxation and calmness while eliminating anxiety and depression-related thoughts.

5. Savasana (Corpse pose):

This pose involves lying flat on the back with arms and legs extended. This pose promotes complete relaxation in the body while helping to calm the mind.

Savasana helps Parkinson’s patients to soothe their nervous systems, promoting better mental health while battling depression symptoms.

Conclusion:

Yoga is a safe and effective way for Parkinson’s patients to manage depression symptoms. Yoga can help patients develop an increased sense of physical and mental wellbeing, which will ultimately lead to improved quality of life.

Incorporating the above suggested yoga poses can help Parkinson’s patients significantly to deal with depression and anxiety symptoms. Hence, Parkinson’s patients must consider adopting yoga practice to manage their symptoms in a holistic, calming and safe way.