Why do yoga when you are mad at the world (and also your cat)?
We all have those days where it feels like everything and everyone is testing our patience. Maybe you started the morning by spilling coffee on your favorite shirt, your inbox is screaming for attention in the background, and in the midst of it all, your cat decided it’s a great day to use your favorite plant as its sandbox.
Spoiler alert: You are not passing that patience test today.
Have you tried yoga for irritation? It can help with this by calming your nervous system and helping you release tension in your body.
What irritation really does to your body
When you are irritated, your sympathetic nervous system (the one in charge of your fight, flight or hiss at your cat response) fires up, flooding your body with cortisol and adrenaline. The more time you spend in this mode, the easier it gets to snap at even seemingly minor things like slow wi-fi or loud chewing.
Research has shown that daily stress and overstimulation (especially from technology) can keep this mode “on” longer than it should be. This leaves you with tense shoulders, racing thoughts and a clenched jaw throughout the whole day (probably even now while you are reading this).
How yoga for irritation can help
Yoga won’t solve all of your problems, but it can help your nervous system relax before you decide to send that passive-aggressive text.
Studies show that yoga lowers cortisol levels and activates the parasympathetic nervous system response, which is our body’s “rest and digest” mode. It helps lower heart rate, slow your breathing, and may result in fewer emotional outbursts over our innocent furry friends!
A regular yoga practice also improves our emotional regulation, which is the ability to notice irritation without immediately reacting to it. It also helps with mindfulness, as well.
You don’t need a studio or fancy leggings to try yoga for irritation. Even one of our online guided yoga classes can start rewiring how your body responds to stress.
How to use yoga to let go of petty revenge fantasies
When you are mad, sitting still can feel impossible, so try starting small when you do yoga for irritation. Here are some tips and tricks for getting through “one of those” days:
- If your cat knocked over your plant, try Child’s Pose instead of plotting your revenge. The pressure of your forehead touching the mat activates the trigeminal nerve, which can activate calming pathways in the brainstem and help relax your nervous system.
- If you feel like yelling, try Lion’s Breath (exhaling with your tongue out). It sounds weird, but it feels freeing, and it definitely helps.
- If your boss’s latest email makes you feel like you want to slam your laptop shut, try Cat-Cow instead. This pose eases the tension in your spine and helps reset your body’s stress cues.
Making peace with your cat (and yourself)
Some mornings you will wake up feeling like a serene yogi, others will make you question your life’s choices because you stepped in your cat’s litter on your way out of bed. Both are completely fine.
Yoga isn’t about being unbothered, but giving your body a safe space when you are bothered. Every time you show up (messy and grumpy included), you are teaching your nervous system that safety doesn’t depend on perfection.
And if today’s not the day? That’s okay too, you can skip it, and the mat (and your cat) will still be there tomorrow.
Ready to try yoga for irritation? We are currently offering a new student special. You can check it out here: https://igniteyogadayton.com/. Your first 14 days are free.
