Anger is a response to an emotional, physical or mental situation that makes us feel hurt or unhappy. It is projected in the form of frustration, irritation or impatience through verbal or physical actions. Let’s face it - we all get angry at some point. From traffic jams to bosses breathing down our throats to even spouses and kids, there are numerous triggers that set us off. But flying off the handle is definitely not the answer and when this starts happening every other day, that’s when you know you have anger management issues. That’s when it becomes a real problem. Trust us, we’ve learnt the hard way! It puts a strain on relationships (even completely ruins some), causes countless health issues, and affects our livelihood if it leads to a job loss, among others.
Have you also ever realized you get angry only at someone who can handle it or someone you CAN get angry with? You don’t really walk up to the President of your company and yell at them, right? But you would remove that anger on your assistant, kids or spouse. But what we don’t realize is how this adds strain to a relationship or how it might impact our kids as they grow older. Scary, right?
What Causes Anger?
Yes, we mentioned everyday issues at work, home or otherwise. But those are triggers. They are not the root cause. Yoga philosophy teaches us that there is always an underlying root cause for any problem or sadness we face. And that root cause is within us. Let’s understand this a little better.
Sensory Desires (Kama)
We all have cravings, ambitions and desires. This could be anything from the desire to earn more money, lose weight, travel the world, send our kids to a private school, etc. When these desires are not met or when we cannot control this, we get angry and upset. This anger is projected on the people we love or meet every other day.
Ego (Krodha)
When a desire remains unfulfilled, we humans automatically try to make reasons or excuses for it. We try to inflate ourselves with praise and thoughts like, ‘My boss is so frustrating and difficult. How am I supposed to get a promotion with him/her around?!’ We start to defend ourselves and one thing leads to another, and eventually we’re boiling with anger.
Attachment (Lobha)
The third cause is also related to our sensory desires. Attachment to that big promotion, having the bank balance to pay for that cruise or being possessive of certain belongings, like a car or house. When something goes out of our control or is not within our reach, once again we get defensive, irritable and angry.
Fear (Bhaya)
This one is connected to all the first three. Fear of losing someone or something subconsciously plays on our minds. We’re scared our kids won’t get an A or our spouse will get fired, or worried we’ll put on weight. This stresses us out, making us behave in an impatient, irritable manner. We remove our irritation and temper on our loved ones at home. Think about it, how many times have you yelled at your kids if they’ve watched TV instead of studying?
What Happens When You Lose Your Temper?
Impact on health
Frequently getting angry increases stress, leads to excessive worry and anxiety. Which, in itself, brings about a scary number of health issues. Anger leads to increase in heart rate, high blood pressure, migraines, lower cardiovascular and respiratory health, sleeping disorders like insomnia, binge eating or skipping meals and a mindless, irregular lifestyle.
Impact on relationships
Anger, impatience, frustration leads to unnecessary fights with loved ones, makes us say things we can’t take back and brings about a negative or toxic vibe at home and office. Children who grow up hearing their parents fighting all the time or being yelled at every other day have a negative outlook, low willpower, self-esteem and confidence. When this is not taken care of, it can spiral into bigger concerns, like substance abuse and violence.
How does Yoga help you Manage Anger?
Yoga provides us with a comprehensive and holistic way to overcome the root causes of pain.A study conducted on two groups has shown that an eight-week yoga practice decreased the verbal aggressiveness in the first group as opposed to an increase in the second group in males and females below the age of 25. Another study showed a significant reduction of the sympathetic tone and increased the vagal tone in a yoga group, which is directly related to being in a state of calmness and rest. Significant evidence also shows how even 20-minutes of meditation reduces the angry response. Consistent practice improves our ability to cope with negative emotions and control our response to situations.
Dropping Desires and Attachments
Becoming fearless, dropping desires, attachments and ego becomes easier to do. This does not mean we live a life free of all desires or ambitions. It simply means we learn how to change our response and perception to external occurrences. We learn to know ‘it’s okay’, to stay balanced and centered irrespective of external occurrences. If your kid has spilled milk on the rug for the third day in a row - it’s okay. It’s just a rug, it can be cleaned or replaced or you can do without it! If your boss has promoted someone else over you - it’s okay. Your time will come. Yoga teaches us to do our best, to do the action. The reward will come. Sounds like it’s easier said than done, right? :) But that’s the truth - you will begin to see these transformative effects within you over time.
A Positive Change
A few hours on the mat with an experienced teacher helps you stay active and mindful. Progressively, you will become calmer, balanced and centered. Knowledge simplified by Shvasa teachers will help you understand how to implement it in different situations, how you can change habits, break out of vicious cycles or improve toxic situations. Sometimes, that is really all we need!
Yoga Practices
A holistic approach of asanas, pranayama and meditation contribute towards improving your mental, emotional and physical well-being. Even simple breathwork and meditation techniques can help you change your response over time. During a yoga practice, you learn to take your attention to specific body parts, your breath and thoughts.
A verse from the Patanjali Yoga Sutras says ‘Sthiram Sukum Asanam’ which translates to ‘Being steady and comfortable in any position or situation.’ With regular practice and guidance, we can learn to apply this in our day-to-day lives. Whether it is a situation at work, our family, a relationship, an environmental concern, or anything else, applying this helps us remain steady, thus helping us manage anger.
The Shvasa Way
Our teachers bring you years of experiences and how they applied different practices and philosophy to change their response and perspective on situations. Learn the right mix of ancient wisdom and modern science in approachable modules to help you overcome challenges and concerns. Our yoga programs are designed to work on every muscle of the body, as well as to bring inner peace, hormonal balance and mindfulness, helping you achieve your goals. Join a class 2-3 times a week and you’ll soon begin to experience the positive, life-changing benefits!
