| Students who seek peace of mind, from chronic | | | | excessive fear and chronic anxiety. Conditioning, |
| anxiety and mood disorders, are often seeking a | | | | genetics, and chemical imbalances, are just a few of |
| natural solution to a problem that has existed for years. | | | | the many reasons why one may have trouble with |
| If possible, it is best for the student to schedule one | | | | maintaining a realistic view of problems and fears that |
| private Yoga session before attending classes. In this | | | | we encounter every day. |
| way, there is a level of comfort and familiarity when | | | | With that said, there is no "one size fits all" solution for |
| he or she attends sessions with other students. | | | | mood disorders. Instructors should work toward |
| When scheduling a private session, Yoga teachers | | | | solutions, but it must be realized that Yoga may be |
| should make the time segment for a reasonable length. | | | | part of a greater solution. This "final solution" may be |
| Although we may want to teach every possible | | | | based upon a combination of counseling, prescriptions, |
| solution for the next potential panic attack, the student | | | | self-help, group therapy, Yoga, and other forms of |
| may only be comfortable with a brief session, which | | | | therapy. |
| lasts 30 minutes. | | | | There is a misconception that one form of therapy |
| Teachers must realize the initial visit requires the | | | | may be the ultimate solution, but there are so many |
| student to put his or her fears aside, in order to attend | | | | different factors involved. For example: Each of us |
| the first session. Gradually, and over time, one who | | | | had a different childhood, even if we share the same |
| suffers from anxiety disorders will become relaxed in | | | | parents. Each of us responds differently to stress in |
| new surroundings. If the student is only comfortable in | | | | school or in the workplace. |
| private Yoga sessions, that feeling may change in the | | | | Consider this: If we isolate the source of our stress |
| future; but there is no need to push him or her into | | | | and anxiety, to losing our job, there is a deeper fear of |
| regular classes. | | | | poverty. If a friend says, "Just quit that job." - this can |
| If chronic anxiety were compared to a prison, then | | | | unleash the stress of looking for a job and visions of |
| Yoga could be compared to one of the jailer's keys. | | | | poverty. As Yoga teachers, we are better off |
| There are many possible solutions to anxiety disorders, | | | | teaching stress reducing techniques than to offer |
| but each person responds differently to counseling, | | | | personal advice, unless we are medical professionals |
| prescriptions, self-help, group therapy, and Yoga. | | | | or qualified counselors. |
| One of the biggest differences is the primary cause of | | | | |