5 Yoga Tools To Ease Money Anxiety
Do you ever find that money causes you anxiety? It’s a common concern, and I’ve discovered that yoga tools can be incredibly helpful in easing money anxiety.
By integrating these tools into my daily life, I’ve found a way to achieve calm and clarity during challenging financial situations.
When I first started working with my yoga guru, we spent over 4 hours perfecting Tadasana, the mountain pose. It might seem simple—just standing there—but we focused intently on foot placement, activating leg muscles, arm positioning, spine alignment, and eye gaze, repeating nuanced movements countless times.
At first, I was frustrated, craving more excitement, and eager to show off my yoga experience. I couldn’t understand why so much time was spent on this basic pose.
But Tadasana turned out to be more than just a posture; it became a daily technique. My guru introduced it to me because it’s a pose to return to—both on and off the mat—whenever I feel triggered, emotional, or unsettled.
Now, ten years later, Tadasana is my go-to tool for managing anxiety or confusion, especially when it comes to financial matters. It offers a moment to pause, shift out of anxiety’s grip, reconnect with my body, and be fully present.
I’ve also realized how yoga tools extend beyond the mat, influencing my approach to finances and trading, making everyday life more grounded and mindful.
Here are some additional yoga tools that might help you as well.
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Drishti
Drishti is a sanskrit word meaning gaze. The yogis knew that where are eyes go, the rest of the body follow.
During a physical practice, we use drishti during a pose to a focal point. This helps to refine the movement and the alignment of that pose.
The use of drishti also brings our awareness inwards. Continued practice of the drishti inwards helps us to concentrate and then still the mind. All needed to come into a meditative state.
I often find that when I sit down at my computer to work on my finances or deal with a trade, my heart is beating and my mind is all over the place. All of a sudden, I have an urgency to do 10 different things and my mind is completely scattered. This creates anxiousness in me. Sometimes, I will walk away and not get anything done.
To use drishti, I start by gazing at a spot in front of me. If I am in front of my computer, I have a beautiful picture in front of me where I start my gaze. After a few minutes, I close my eyes and gaze at the spot between my eyebrows. With this internal gaze, my thoughts and emotions settle right down. It often takes only a few minutes to come to this space of peace.
Alternative Nostril Breathing
A couple of years ago, I was being audited. Every time I sat down at the computer to gather up paperwork for them, I would go into a full-out panic. Cold sweat, heart palpitations, the works!
This was when I used alternate nostril breathing which immediately would slow my breathing down enough so the panic would subside.
The technique is easy enough to do. Traditionally, alternate nostril breathing involves breathing with one nostril while holding the other closed, then swapping sides.
In my full-blown panic, I couldn’t even use my hands to do the actions of holding the nostril. I found that even focusing on breath coming into the right nostril, out the left, then in the left and out the right was as effective.
This breathing practice has been validated in the medical literature. A 2017 review of all the studies on alternate nostril breathing found that doing it regularly was good for the heart, lungs, and brain. Studies have shown alternate nostril breathing done over some time will:
- reduce blood pressure and heart rate
- improve lung function or breathing
- improve motor function or movement skills
- improve memory
It’s a practice to be done after a physical yoga session but a great tool to use in a time of need. Certainly, a great practice to settle the nervous system before sitting down to do any money work.
Chant the Mantra OM
Attending a yoga class, the mantra OM is often chanted at the beginning or end of a class. The vibration of OM is considered to be the most elemental and is a direct link to the Divine. It’s chanted at the beginning and end of a class to signify the separation between the practice and the rest of our everyday life. It brings immediate focus to the practice on the mat.
I will often chant as I settle down into a meditation practice, for the same reason of signifying the beginning of the meditation. However, most often, I chant because my mind is buzzing around with thoughts of everything from what I need to make for dinner or listing all of my regrets of the last 50 years!
When I don’t want to sit down and do the task on hand, such as looking at my numbers or paying bills, I will often silently chant OM for a few minutes. Or even keep chanting OM as I do my tasks.
A mantra chanting practice for only 10 minutes can help with:
- reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms
- improve attention
- enhance positive mood
- foster feelings of social cohesion
The vibration that is made with the sound helps to activate the structures of the nervous system involved with attention and control. The sound itself produces nitric oxide, a substance that will lead to muscle relaxation and increase blood flow.
Meditation
Of course, when we talk about yoga, meditation needs to be discussed. Ultimately, a yoga practice IS MEDITATION!
When I start worrying about money, it triggers a lot of stress for me. This stress, in turn, makes me even more anxious about my finances, creating a never-ending cycle of worry.
To break out of this loop, I find that practices like yogic meditation really help me calm my mind and body, giving me a sense of peace and perspective.
Yogic meditation techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness meditation have been shown to reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels and activating the body’s relaxation response.
This helps calm the mind and body, making it easier to deal with financial worries.
Mindfulness meditation also helps people observe their thoughts without judgment, which can reduce anxiety about past mistakes or future uncertainties related to money.
Regular meditation practice has been linked to improved emotional regulation and resilience, making it easier to cope with financial challenges.
Gratitude Practice
I remember back in the 90s when Oprah introduced the gratitude journal. I remembered that show where she said it completely changed her life.
Studies have since shown that a simple practice of writing down what you’re grateful for can boost mental health and lower anxiety levels.
Practicing gratitude has been a game-changer for me when it comes to easing money worries. It’s like when I take a moment to appreciate the good things in my life, even the little stuff, it shifts my focus away from stressing about what I don’t have.
Instead, I started feeling more content and secure with what I did have. It’s like flipping a switch from worry to appreciation, and it’s been a real stress-buster for me in handling my finances.
Remember, you’re not alone in dealing with the rollercoaster of emotions that can come with this stage of life.
It’s a common challenge that many of us face as we navigate transitions and changes. But by incorporating yogic tools into your daily routine, you can develop a sense of inner peace and resilience that helps you ride the waves with greater ease.
Whether it’s practicing mindfulness meditation to quiet your mind or using breathing techniques to release tension from your body, these simple yet powerful techniques can make a real difference in how you experience and manage your emotional ups and downs.
So don’t hesitate to give them a try and see the positive impact they can have on your overall well-being.
Remember, as you cultivate peace within yourself, you may find that your outlook on the outer world shifts as well, opening up new possibilities and opportunities for growth and fulfillment.
Let me know how these yoga practices help in easing your money anxiety! I would love to hear about it.
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