The Power of Breath: Yoga’s Psychological Benefits | Anjali Mehta | TEDxYouth@SAS

Yoga is a Sanskrit term for Union Union

Yoga is a Sanskrit term for Union Union the act of joining or being joined yoga

the act of joining or being joined yoga

the act of joining or being joined yoga is the practice of connecting the mind

is the practice of connecting the mind

is the practice of connecting the mind and the body the only existing bridge

and the body the only existing bridge

and the body the only existing bridge that could potentially connect the mind

that could potentially connect the mind

that could potentially connect the mind and the body is the breath and the Sun

and the body is the breath and the Sun

and the body is the breath and the Sun Salutation as you just observed is a

Salutation as you just observed is a

Salutation as you just observed is a series of yoga postures designed to move

series of yoga postures designed to move

series of yoga postures designed to move to the rhythm of our inhales and our

to the rhythm of our inhales and our

to the rhythm of our inhales and our exhales and as we do this we form a

exhales and as we do this we form a

exhales and as we do this we form a connection between the mind and the body

connection between the mind and the body

connection between the mind and the body two years ago there was no chance of me

two years ago there was no chance of me

two years ago there was no chance of me even attempting the sun’s halogen I have

even attempting the sun’s halogen I have

even attempting the sun’s halogen I have a very spiritual family all of whom are

a very spiritual family all of whom are

a very spiritual family all of whom are into yoga breathing meditation Ayurveda

into yoga breathing meditation Ayurveda

into yoga breathing meditation Ayurveda all of which at the time I was simply

all of which at the time I was simply

all of which at the time I was simply not interested in my parents tried very

not interested in my parents tried very

not interested in my parents tried very hard for many years they sent me links

hard for many years they sent me links

hard for many years they sent me links to YouTube videos of breathing exercises

to YouTube videos of breathing exercises

to YouTube videos of breathing exercises and Sun Salutation tutorials even

and Sun Salutation tutorials even

and Sun Salutation tutorials even articles as to how yoga can change your

articles as to how yoga can change your

articles as to how yoga can change your life but I was ignorant I was not

life but I was ignorant I was not

life but I was ignorant I was not willing to listen to my parents when I

willing to listen to my parents when I

willing to listen to my parents when I was 11 my father sent me into his room

was 11 my father sent me into his room

was 11 my father sent me into his room and he told me to sit this of the corner

and he told me to sit this of the corner

and he told me to sit this of the corner he put a clock in front of me and said

he put a clock in front of me and said

he put a clock in front of me and said don’t get up till 4:00 it was 12 o’clock

don’t get up till 4:00 it was 12 o’clock

don’t get up till 4:00 it was 12 o’clock I began to hate meditation because I

I began to hate meditation because I

I began to hate meditation because I couldn’t be still I had to force myself

couldn’t be still I had to force myself

couldn’t be still I had to force myself to stop thinking my mind my mind was

to stop thinking my mind my mind was

to stop thinking my mind my mind was racing from here to there I couldn’t be

racing from here to there I couldn’t be

racing from here to there I couldn’t be still and then when I was 12 my father

still and then when I was 12 my father

still and then when I was 12 my father his friend and I would every Sunday we

his friend and I would every Sunday we

his friend and I would every Sunday we went to a Buddhist temple and we would

went to a Buddhist temple and we would

went to a Buddhist temple and we would practice third-eye meditation it was a

practice third-eye meditation it was a

practice third-eye meditation it was a two to three hour practice where we

two to three hour practice where we

two to three hour practice where we would focus on a light in front of the

would focus on a light in front of the

would focus on a light in front of the room and focus on the

room and focus on the

room and focus on the space between our eyebrows our third eye

space between our eyebrows our third eye

space between our eyebrows our third eye this was the most boring three hours of

this was the most boring three hours of

this was the most boring three hours of my life I hated it

my life I hated it

my life I hated it I was just ignorant I didn’t even

I was just ignorant I didn’t even

I was just ignorant I didn’t even understand it and then my father signed

understand it and then my father signed

understand it and then my father signed me up for my first yoga retreat which

me up for my first yoga retreat which

me up for my first yoga retreat which was a meditation yoga retreat which I

was a meditation yoga retreat which I

was a meditation yoga retreat which I also strongly deflect and then in middle

also strongly deflect and then in middle

also strongly deflect and then in middle school and in my freshman year I was

school and in my freshman year I was

school and in my freshman year I was chaos all I ever thought about were

chaos all I ever thought about were

chaos all I ever thought about were grades GPA university extracurricular

grades GPA university extracurricular

grades GPA university extracurricular activities since a very young age I’ve

activities since a very young age I’ve

activities since a very young age I’ve always wanted to help people and so I

always wanted to help people and so I

always wanted to help people and so I wanted to be a doctor but other than

wanted to be a doctor but other than

wanted to be a doctor but other than that no other passion no motivation no

that no other passion no motivation no

that no other passion no motivation no Drive nothing just constantly worried

Drive nothing just constantly worried

Drive nothing just constantly worried anxious distressed my anxiety consumed

anxious distressed my anxiety consumed

anxious distressed my anxiety consumed me but then when I was 14 my mother

me but then when I was 14 my mother

me but then when I was 14 my mother pushed me to becoming a yoga instructor

pushed me to becoming a yoga instructor

pushed me to becoming a yoga instructor and that’s when everything changed

and that’s when everything changed

and that’s when everything changed yoga saved me during the first day of

yoga saved me during the first day of

yoga saved me during the first day of the course I walked into a room full of

the course I walked into a room full of

the course I walked into a room full of 50 year olds and they stared at me

50 year olds and they stared at me

50 year olds and they stared at me astonished she lost I was not loved we

astonished she lost I was not loved we

astonished she lost I was not loved we waited for a very long and awkward five

waited for a very long and awkward five

waited for a very long and awkward five minutes before our Virgie the teacher of

minutes before our Virgie the teacher of

minutes before our Virgie the teacher of the teachers arrived and when he did

the teachers arrived and when he did

the teachers arrived and when he did everything changed the tone of the room

everything changed the tone of the room

everything changed the tone of the room the energy in the room had changed and

the energy in the room had changed and

the energy in the room had changed and then he proceeded to explain the

then he proceeded to explain the

then he proceeded to explain the philosophy behind yoga about how we do

philosophy behind yoga about how we do

philosophy behind yoga about how we do it so that no matter what is going on on

it so that no matter what is going on on

it so that no matter what is going on on the outside even if the world is falling

the outside even if the world is falling

the outside even if the world is falling to pieces that on the inside we can

to pieces that on the inside we can

to pieces that on the inside we can remain calm and still and that is when I

remain calm and still and that is when I

remain calm and still and that is when I started to believe I started to

started to believe I started to

started to believe I started to understand why my parents had tried to

understand why my parents had tried to

understand why my parents had tried to put me into yoga for so long and why

put me into yoga for so long and why

put me into yoga for so long and why they had tried so hard

and that’s when everything changed um

and that’s when everything changed um during the yoga therapy doing a yoga

during the yoga therapy doing a yoga

during the yoga therapy doing a yoga instructor course sorry we had a lecture

instructor course sorry we had a lecture

instructor course sorry we had a lecture on meditation and we learned to

on meditation and we learned to

on meditation and we learned to meditation as the art or the practice of

meditation as the art or the practice of

meditation as the art or the practice of focus this can be focused on anything a

focus this can be focused on anything a

focus this can be focused on anything a light a sound and image even a planned

light a sound and image even a planned

light a sound and image even a planned anything meditation essentially is a

anything meditation essentially is a

anything meditation essentially is a state of deep peace and intense focus

state of deep peace and intense focus

state of deep peace and intense focus and it trains your mind to remain calm

and it trains your mind to remain calm

and it trains your mind to remain calm and still and so that day after the

and still and so that day after the

and still and so that day after the lecture I went home and I told myself

lecture I went home and I told myself

lecture I went home and I told myself that I was going to meditate it’ll be

that I was going to meditate it’ll be

that I was going to meditate it’ll be fun I thought so I rolled out my yoga

fun I thought so I rolled out my yoga

fun I thought so I rolled out my yoga mat I had some essential oils I burnt a

mat I had some essential oils I burnt a

mat I had some essential oils I burnt a few candles i sat down on the mat and I

few candles i sat down on the mat and I

few candles i sat down on the mat and I took a deep breath in I was going to

took a deep breath in I was going to

took a deep breath in I was going to meditate I couldn’t do it I lasted for

meditate I couldn’t do it I lasted for

meditate I couldn’t do it I lasted for maybe three minutes at the maximum I

maybe three minutes at the maximum I

maybe three minutes at the maximum I tried so hard to focus so hard to

tried so hard to focus so hard to

tried so hard to focus so hard to control my thoughts but I just couldn’t

control my thoughts but I just couldn’t

control my thoughts but I just couldn’t do it this is what my head looked like

do it this is what my head looked like

do it this is what my head looked like you I thought it was completely

you I thought it was completely

you I thought it was completely impossible but then we had a lecture on

impossible but then we had a lecture on

impossible but then we had a lecture on prana the Sanskrit term for life force

prana the Sanskrit term for life force

prana the Sanskrit term for life force our breath and that day I went home and

our breath and that day I went home and

our breath and that day I went home and I meditated and this time I really

I meditated and this time I really

I meditated and this time I really meditated this time I didn’t try to

meditated this time I didn’t try to

meditated this time I didn’t try to control my thoughts I didn’t try to stop

control my thoughts I didn’t try to stop

control my thoughts I didn’t try to stop cell from thinking I just let my

cell from thinking I just let my

cell from thinking I just let my thoughts come and go I just chose to

thoughts come and go I just chose to

thoughts come and go I just chose to focus on my breath and to listen to my

focus on my breath and to listen to my

focus on my breath and to listen to my breath I didn’t pay any attention to my

breath I didn’t pay any attention to my

breath I didn’t pay any attention to my thoughts and I felt peace it was this

thoughts and I felt peace it was this

thoughts and I felt peace it was this feeling beyond anything I’ve ever felt

feeling beyond anything I’ve ever felt

feeling beyond anything I’ve ever felt before

before

before beautiful and that is when I realized

beautiful and that is when I realized

beautiful and that is when I realized the power of our breath our thoughts are

the power of our breath our thoughts are

the power of our breath our thoughts are constitute to this amazing world or

constitute to this amazing world or

constitute to this amazing world or reality we see an experience every day

reality we see an experience every day

reality we see an experience every day however there

however there

however there also the root cause of most problems in

also the root cause of most problems in

also the root cause of most problems in our life it is when these thoughts

our life it is when these thoughts

our life it is when these thoughts escalate we find ourselves losing

escalate we find ourselves losing

escalate we find ourselves losing control and unable to remain calm we can

control and unable to remain calm we can

control and unable to remain calm we can never fully stop thinking however we can

never fully stop thinking however we can

never fully stop thinking however we can learn to tame our thoughts and we can

learn to tame our thoughts and we can

learn to tame our thoughts and we can use yoga as a tool to do so Yoga is a

use yoga as a tool to do so Yoga is a

use yoga as a tool to do so Yoga is a practice which makes us aware of our

practice which makes us aware of our

practice which makes us aware of our breath and when we become aware of our

breath and when we become aware of our

breath and when we become aware of our breath we can tame our thoughts and

breath we can tame our thoughts and

breath we can tame our thoughts and choose whether or not to respond to them

choose whether or not to respond to them

choose whether or not to respond to them when I meditated for example I didn’t

when I meditated for example I didn’t

when I meditated for example I didn’t stop thinking I was thinking I just

stop thinking I was thinking I just

stop thinking I was thinking I just wasn’t paying attention to my thoughts

wasn’t paying attention to my thoughts

wasn’t paying attention to my thoughts and I chose not to respond or to react

and I chose not to respond or to react

and I chose not to respond or to react to my thoughts through evolution our

to my thoughts through evolution our

to my thoughts through evolution our bodies have designed this

bodies have designed this

bodies have designed this fight-or-flight mode for any stressful

fight-or-flight mode for any stressful

fight-or-flight mode for any stressful situation in a hunter-gatherer days for

situation in a hunter-gatherer days for

situation in a hunter-gatherer days for example if we were to ever encounter say

example if we were to ever encounter say

example if we were to ever encounter say a tiger our bodies would immediately go

a tiger our bodies would immediately go

a tiger our bodies would immediately go into this response even during yoga when

into this response even during yoga when

into this response even during yoga when we have to force ourselves to be still

we have to force ourselves to be still

we have to force ourselves to be still and when we have to force ourselves to

and when we have to force ourselves to

and when we have to force ourselves to not move in to stay calm and breathe our

not move in to stay calm and breathe our

not move in to stay calm and breathe our bodies can go into this response

bodies can go into this response

bodies can go into this response frustrated about a test late for a

frustrated about a test late for a

frustrated about a test late for a meeting nervous about a speech

meeting nervous about a speech

meeting nervous about a speech fight-or-flight mode and this can have

fight-or-flight mode and this can have

fight-or-flight mode and this can have detrimental effects on the body when I

detrimental effects on the body when I

detrimental effects on the body when I used to meditate my mind used to be

used to meditate my mind used to be

used to meditate my mind used to be everywhere my I used to think about all

everywhere my I used to think about all

everywhere my I used to think about all these things I want to get out of here

these things I want to get out of here

these things I want to get out of here and this is too hard I can’t do this I

and this is too hard I can’t do this I

and this is too hard I can’t do this I hate this I hate this so much I just

hate this I hate this so much I just

hate this I hate this so much I just want to give and my body would go into

want to give and my body would go into

want to give and my body would go into this response my breathing would get

this response my breathing would get

this response my breathing would get faster get more shallow my heart would

faster get more shallow my heart would

faster get more shallow my heart would beat faster I break into a sweat and

beat faster I break into a sweat and

beat faster I break into a sweat and then I realized a secret to meditation

then I realized a secret to meditation

then I realized a secret to meditation and just a simple act of breathing the

and just a simple act of breathing the

and just a simple act of breathing the first thing to change as a response as a

first thing to change as a response as a

first thing to change as a response as a result of this response is your breath

result of this response is your breath

result of this response is your breath and so as you control your breath and as

and so as you control your breath and as

and so as you control your breath and as you focus on deep breathing you

you focus on deep breathing you

you focus on deep breathing you subconsciously tell your mind that

subconsciously tell your mind that

subconsciously tell your mind that everything is fine that there

everything is fine that there

everything is fine that there no need to go into the stress response

no need to go into the stress response

no need to go into the stress response and so when you control your breath you

and so when you control your breath you

and so when you control your breath you essentially control this entire reaction

essentially control this entire reaction

essentially control this entire reaction from taking place and by this yoga can

from taking place and by this yoga can

from taking place and by this yoga can offer an escape from the minds worry and

offer an escape from the minds worry and

offer an escape from the minds worry and rush thoughts

rush thoughts

rush thoughts gradually my anxiousness reduced I

gradually my anxiousness reduced I

gradually my anxiousness reduced I became a comma and a happier person last

became a comma and a happier person last

became a comma and a happier person last year I was at a retreat in Kochi and I

year I was at a retreat in Kochi and I

year I was at a retreat in Kochi and I was in the balcony alone

was in the balcony alone

was in the balcony alone I was simply enjoying the nature around

I was simply enjoying the nature around

I was simply enjoying the nature around me just observing the life around me it

me just observing the life around me it

me just observing the life around me it was a full moment I was peaceful but

was a full moment I was peaceful but

was a full moment I was peaceful but then I started thinking about a test and

then I started thinking about a test and

then I started thinking about a test and I started getting a little bit anxious

I started getting a little bit anxious

I started getting a little bit anxious and I got a little bit stressed and I

and I got a little bit stressed and I

and I got a little bit stressed and I realized that I just wanted to be in

realized that I just wanted to be in

realized that I just wanted to be in that moment and not be stressed and so I

that moment and not be stressed and so I

that moment and not be stressed and so I started focusing on my breath and my

started focusing on my breath and my

started focusing on my breath and my thoughts started to dwindle and

thoughts started to dwindle and

thoughts started to dwindle and disappear and in that moment I chose

disappear and in that moment I chose

disappear and in that moment I chose that I would I told myself that I would

that I would I told myself that I would

that I would I told myself that I would not listen to my thoughts that I would

not listen to my thoughts that I would

not listen to my thoughts that I would listen to my breath instead and I didn’t

listen to my breath instead and I didn’t

listen to my breath instead and I didn’t try to control my thoughts I just simply

try to control my thoughts I just simply

try to control my thoughts I just simply chose not to respond to them our

chose not to respond to them our

chose not to respond to them our thoughts you see are only about the past

thoughts you see are only about the past

thoughts you see are only about the past or the future the past is an illusion

or the future the past is an illusion

or the future the past is an illusion which could bring depression and the

which could bring depression and the

which could bring depression and the future is your imagination that could

future is your imagination that could

future is your imagination that could bring anxiety and in all of our

bring anxiety and in all of our

bring anxiety and in all of our suffocating thoughts we forget to

suffocating thoughts we forget to

suffocating thoughts we forget to experience the moment right in front of

experience the moment right in front of

experience the moment right in front of us the most beautiful the most important

us the most beautiful the most important

us the most beautiful the most important moment the present I want to live in

moment the present I want to live in

moment the present I want to live in this moment and experience life in this

this moment and experience life in this

this moment and experience life in this moment the present Yoga is a practice

moment the present Yoga is a practice

moment the present Yoga is a practice which makes us aware of the present and

which makes us aware of the present and

which makes us aware of the present and it brings us to the present moment and

it brings us to the present moment and

it brings us to the present moment and guides us to peace usually when you

guides us to peace usually when you

guides us to peace usually when you think of yoga

think of yoga

think of yoga you may picture some insanely flexible

you may picture some insanely flexible

you may picture some insanely flexible person with their foot behind their head

person with their foot behind their head

person with their foot behind their head and some other ridiculous posture

and some other ridiculous posture

and some other ridiculous posture this is far

this is far

this is far true yoga is a prism of possibilities

true yoga is a prism of possibilities

true yoga is a prism of possibilities when I first started yoga I did it

when I first started yoga I did it

when I first started yoga I did it because I wanted to be more flexible and

because I wanted to be more flexible and

because I wanted to be more flexible and stronger however this is exactly what

stronger however this is exactly what

stronger however this is exactly what yoga taught me to let go up it has so

yoga taught me to let go up it has so

yoga taught me to let go up it has so much more to offer than just posture

much more to offer than just posture

much more to offer than just posture than just a flexibility and strength

than just a flexibility and strength

than just a flexibility and strength after the yoga therapy course after the

after the yoga therapy course after the

after the yoga therapy course after the yoga instructor course sorry I took the

yoga instructor course sorry I took the

yoga instructor course sorry I took the yoga therapy course yoga therapy is when

yoga therapy course yoga therapy is when

yoga therapy course yoga therapy is when we use yoga as a tool to heal treat and

we use yoga as a tool to heal treat and

we use yoga as a tool to heal treat and sometimes even cure different diseases

sometimes even cure different diseases

sometimes even cure different diseases and disorders and I continue to be

and disorders and I continue to be

and disorders and I continue to be amazed by the endless possibilities yoga

amazed by the endless possibilities yoga

amazed by the endless possibilities yoga has to offer us in one of my yoga

has to offer us in one of my yoga

has to offer us in one of my yoga classes I had an 8 year old girl let’s

classes I had an 8 year old girl let’s

classes I had an 8 year old girl let’s call her Annie and when we were

call her Annie and when we were

call her Annie and when we were practicing yoga she began to cry

practicing yoga she began to cry

practicing yoga she began to cry naturally I went up to her and I asked

naturally I went up to her and I asked

naturally I went up to her and I asked her what was wrong she said she didn’t

her what was wrong she said she didn’t

her what was wrong she said she didn’t want to talk about it and so I loved her

want to talk about it and so I loved her

want to talk about it and so I loved her alone but the next class however it

alone but the next class however it

alone but the next class however it happened again and so that day we went

happened again and so that day we went

happened again and so that day we went on a walk and she told me that she felt

on a walk and she told me that she felt

on a walk and she told me that she felt bad about herself because she wasn’t as

bad about herself because she wasn’t as

bad about herself because she wasn’t as flexible or skinny as some of the other

flexible or skinny as some of the other

flexible or skinny as some of the other girls in the class and she didn’t like

girls in the class and she didn’t like

girls in the class and she didn’t like that and then she told me about some

that and then she told me about some

that and then she told me about some problems she was having at home which

problems she was having at home which

problems she was having at home which are frankly far too terrible for me to

are frankly far too terrible for me to

are frankly far too terrible for me to and discuss but as her yoga instructor I

and discuss but as her yoga instructor I

and discuss but as her yoga instructor I really wanted to help and so I designed

really wanted to help and so I designed

really wanted to help and so I designed a breathing exercise for her and when I

a breathing exercise for her and when I

a breathing exercise for her and when I was teaching her I saw myself in her I

was teaching her I saw myself in her I

was teaching her I saw myself in her I saw an anxious frustrated young girl who

saw an anxious frustrated young girl who

saw an anxious frustrated young girl who just needed to breathe and so gradually

just needed to breathe and so gradually

just needed to breathe and so gradually her anxiety it got better

her anxiety it got better

her anxiety it got better of course Yoga did not cure her but it

of course Yoga did not cure her but it

of course Yoga did not cure her but it allowed her to regain control over her

allowed her to regain control over her

allowed her to regain control over her thoughts and it allowed her to let go of

thoughts and it allowed her to let go of

thoughts and it allowed her to let go of her thoughts and to choose not to

her thoughts and to choose not to

her thoughts and to choose not to respond to them I would not like to take

respond to them I would not like to take

respond to them I would not like to take you through the same thing I took any so

you through the same thing I took any so

you through the same thing I took any so please

please

please your eye take off your glasses if you’re

your eye take off your glasses if you’re

your eye take off your glasses if you’re wearing any sit with your legs uncrossed

place your palms on your knees facing up

place your palms on your knees facing up and take this moment right now to focus

and take this moment right now to focus

and take this moment right now to focus on your breath bring your attention to

on your breath bring your attention to

on your breath bring your attention to this moment be aware

inhale through the nose and exhale very

inhale through the nose and exhale very slowly through the mouth

be aware of all the sensations around

be aware of all the sensations around you

observe your thoughts as they come and

observe your thoughts as they come and go

serve your body is your stomach inflates

serve your body is your stomach inflates and deflates with every inhale and

and deflates with every inhale and

and deflates with every inhale and exhale just be in this moment calm happy

what you just did was a very simple yet

what you just did was a very simple yet effective mindfulness exercise and this

effective mindfulness exercise and this

effective mindfulness exercise and this is exactly what I told any to do and

is exactly what I told any to do and

is exactly what I told any to do and this is exactly what I do every time I

this is exactly what I do every time I

this is exactly what I do every time I get stressed anxious or frustrated in

get stressed anxious or frustrated in

get stressed anxious or frustrated in fact I did this right before coming onto

fact I did this right before coming onto

fact I did this right before coming onto stage and that’s it

stage and that’s it

stage and that’s it it takes one thought for everything to

it takes one thought for everything to

it takes one thought for everything to collapse but one rush to find peace

collapse but one rush to find peace

collapse but one rush to find peace [Applause]