" One is afraid of time, of growing old, of becoming a fool, dependent on another. So there is the fear of time, the fear of the past and the future. And this fear of loneliness, of death, of public opinion, of not conforming, of not being able to make it, of not being able to realize, of not becoming someone in this stupid world and so on. There are so many fears, not only conscious fears, the fear of which we are conscious, but there are also fears in depth, unknown, unexplored, in the deep recesses of our mind ".
These words of Krishnamurti, a stateless philosopher of Indian origin, make us immediately reflect one of the most visceral feelings that distinguish us: fear .
Fear is an integral part of the human soul, but sometimes the facts of life or our particular attitude make it swell out of proportion making our lives uncertain and hesitant.
How can we help us downsize it?
A holistic approach to fear: breathing, yoga and meditation
As always, when we approach complex and intimate issues such as, in this case, that of fears, we want to move cautiously: we do not propose miraculous solutions, esoteric techniques that will erase your fears or mantra with magical powers.
We prefer, more reasonably, to give you food for thought and, also, healthy practices for psycho-physical well-being .
Observe the breath for fear management
Whether it's the fear of an exam, a job interview, a meeting: don't forget to bring an inner smile and ... the calm of the breath .
The soothing power of the simple observation of the breath is really enormous and we invite you to experiment it with a simple exercise: concentrate on the flow of air flowing inside the nostrils, observe it as mere spectators; test the depth, the consistency, we would dare to say the taste.
Try to clear your mind as much as possible and enjoy the beauty of the moment; then, return to your inner state and observe how this wave of well-being and peace has changed and calmed you ...
How to experience silence without discomfort
Yoga asanas to manage fear
In times when you feel your fears tend to take over and upset your daily serenity, concentrate your yoga practice on certain positions of stability and strength like all versions of the warrior's position (virabhadrasana I, II and III) . Likewise, you can embrace the symbolism of an asana like the position of the mountain (tadasana) which helps to cultivate firmness, improbability, equidistance.
To start the day with an extra boost of energy and vigor, useful to face the battles of life, do not forget some repetition of the sun salutation : splendid as the brightest star, you will melt any fear freezes your mind and heart!
But we do not want to invite you to the constant struggle because, if it is wise to face what we fear, it is equally wise not to stick to it and learn to "let go", to embrace even what is frightening. So, at the end of the day, be sure to give yourself a few minutes in a pacifying position such as the position of the child (balasana ) or to abandon yourself in complete and total relaxation with savasana (the position of the corpse).
Meditation to work on one's fears
Meditation is also a valid support to work on one's fears : both within the yoga practice and independently, it is an excellent tool for dissolving mental tensions, clearing the mind of devaluing thoughts and eliminating psycho-physical waste .
There are also guided meditations designed to tackle fear: we cannot give you an opinion on their value because in this field subjectivity plays a too crucial role, but we invite you to experiment them anyway to see if they can help you.
Different fears, different approaches
Fear is an emotion that accompanies a man from an early age and never leaves him. We have given you some suggestions to deal with it with some weapons and in greater awareness, but obviously, for the most serious cases, do not fail to avail yourself of the support of a professional who will guide you and show you the way to free you from any fear with success, because no, even in synergy with our advice!
