Intelligent Yoga - The Best Antidepressant

“Today is a great day to be alive,” said my dad over 25 years ago.  At age 38 he suffered his first heart attack and by age 40 he had three other heart attacks and triple bypass heart surgery.   At that time, the doctors informed my dad that the surgery was only good for about ten years.  At the ten year mark we looked at each other with wonderment on whether or not his ticker would tick anymore.  You know what he said to me?  “Today is another great day to be alive.”  And now, 25 years later and some hypertension medicine he is still phoning me each day telling me that “today is a great day to be alive.”  What my dad has been practicing all these years, and before Madonna made it cool to down dog, was Intelligent Yoga. 


Yoga means to “yolk,” or to connect the mind with the body.  Using the intellect, a form of conscious awareness, we have the ability to set a positive intention or purpose to each day.  With this intention we can then live the life we desire by making good choices, acting respectfully, and being mindful of our behaviors and actions.   Now, my dad could have led a severely depressed life knowing that he only had ten years to live after his heart surgery but he decided to set a positive mental intention each day that led him on a path of healthy behaviors and actions.  Intelligent Yoga is the best antidepressant.   Whether we suffer from depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other mental or physical health issues if we practice intelligent yoga we will be able to manage our symptoms.  As a licensed clinical health psychologist and registered and certified yoga teacher I often combine deep breathing relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and intelligent yoga in my treatment plan for my patients.  By setting intentions and engaging in healthy mindful daily behaviors and actions men and women can improve mood, minimize anxiety and panic attacks, boost motivation and task completion, and calm the racing and stressful mind. 

Stay focused, be mindful, slow down and make healthy choices – you just might find yourself saying that “today is a great day to be alive.”  



Written by Melissa Oleshanksy, PhD, LP, RYT