6 Cleansing Movements For Mental Health (That You Can Do From Your Desk)

Mood disorders are the accompanying epidemic to the pandemic. According to some estimates, 41% of U.S. adults now show symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder—compared to 11% back in 2019.

At the same time, many of us have also become more sedentary with all the working from home and communicating online.

In the 1980s, I sat in a chair for most of the day. Even though I was doing what I loved, writing fiction, I was depressed. It wasn't until I began a daily yoga practice in the late '80s that my mood started to stabilize.

We all recognize that when we feel sad or lethargic, our movements feel heavier and slower. When we feel anxious, our movements may be faster and a little jerkier. But did you know that when you reverse this process, slowing your movements and lengthening your exhale, you can calm an anxious mind?

On the other hand, when you're feeling lethargic, picking up the pace of your movements can help you begin to feel more lively1.

I began a yoga practice long before there was this large body of research on the mind-body connection. I just knew moving my body during the day made me feel better. With supervision by my prescribing psychiatrist, I was able to gradually ease off antidepressants.

I became passionate about helping others who suffered from depression and became a yoga teacher. I adapted what I learned from yoga masters in India and the U.S. into research-backed, mood-supporting routines that could be done anywhere—even at a desk.

Next, it's time to stand. These movements can help activate feel-good hormones like oxytocin, prolactin, and serotonin and shift us into a more relaxed, alert, and calm state.

See if you can coordinate your movements with your breath. Breathe deeply and slowly through your nose to calm your nervous system and bring more oxygenated blood to the brain2.

If you're up for it, incorporating sound into your practice can also help boost its benefits. The ones that I suggest correspond to the chakras, a system of energy centers that can be activated to promote grounding and mental alertness. And if you're working from home, who's going to hear you? The sounds aren't religious, so don't worry about chanting to a deity you don't believe in. If family or roommates are around, invite them to get weird with you.