Combating lockdown stress: People turn to yoga for better sleep, peace of mind

In her last interview with us, Erica Fernandes shared that she added meditation and yoga to her lockdown routine as it helped her keep calm and strong, both physically and mentally. She wasn’t the only one who turned to yoga in the lockdown. Many even replaced their gym sessions with yoga when the lockdown was announced in March. After almost three months, they say that physical fitness is just one of the many reasons to practice yoga amid the pandemic.On International Yoga Day today, some of these people share how yoga helped them during the lockdown.
‘Started doing pranayam to boost immunity amid pandemic’
Even though no scientific evidence has been found of yoga’s effect on treating COVID-19, several coronavirus survivors have shared that doing yoga, particularly pranayam, (breathing exercises), has helped them. Delhi’s first COVID-19 patient claimed that doing pranayam was useful in his course of recovery and helped reduce anxiety.
Vanndana Vaadera, former anchor and now a motivational speaker, did her yoga teacher’s training years ago, but in the last year, gym sessions replaced yoga. “I started doing yoga again in March this year only because I know that there are breathing exercises and yoga asanas that help in boosting immunity. I have been doing kapalbhati, singhasan and anulom vilom regularly. I do feel strong and better than before,” says Vanndana.
Kavita Kaushik does some complicated asanas during lockdown
‘Yoga helped improve concentration & get rid of lethargy while working from home’
During the lockdown, many resolved to take up tasks they once gave up and working out was one of them and yoga came to the rescue of many. Divya Sharma, a product merchandiser based in Delhi, started yoga for several reasons, she says, “Yoga asanas for beginners are not strenuous, you don’t feel exhausted after doing them. Second, your body becomes more flexible and the breathing exercises also help in one’s mental well-being.” She adds that her concentration also improved when she started doing yoga.
Mayur Kishnani, a marketing professional in Delhi, adds that a yoga session of just 15-20 minutes each day helped him stay fit and energetic. “For years, I kept thinking that I should work on my fitness and start doing yoga, but never did it. When the lockdown began, I decided to follow online tutorials of 15-20 minutes and I noticed a change in just 20 days or so. I would always feel sleepy while working from home, and I was surprised that I didn’t feel like that once I was doing yoga regularly,” says Mayur.
Sushmita Sen has shared multiple glimpses of her Yoga poses since the lockdown started
‘Yoga helped with anxiety and insomnia in the lockdown’
Rajouri Garden-based fashion designer Amit Talwar had to give up running during the lockdown. “My body didn’t react well to it. I started facing problems with digestion and I could not sleep for four days in a row. I was becoming an insomniac. I discussed this with a friend, who suggested that I do yoga. I was advised butterfly asana, surya namaskar, pranayam and pawanmukt asana. Yoga helped me relax and I could sleep well,” says Amit.
'Yoga helped me relax and I could sleep better' says Amit Talwar, a fashion designer
Gym junkies who switched to yoga in the lockdown realised that more than physical fitness, yoga helps in reducing anxiety, which is very important right now. “We all know the tough times we are facing. There is no socialising, some people can’t even meet their families, some are worried about their jobs and we hear so much disturbing news throughout the day. When I started doing yoga in April, I realised that one actually feels positive and happy after doing it. I am sure that even when gyms reopen, I would continue doing yoga,” says Mumbai-based marketing professional Surabhi Sahay.