Climate change is real. Many people feel its impact. Heatwaves, floods, storms—these events cause fear. Anxiety about the planet’s future is growing. Even young people feel it deeply. This worry has a name—climate anxiety.
In India, climate anxiety is rising. Many are looking for ways to find peace. Yoga is one helpful tool. It is simple, rooted in Indian culture, and backed by science.
What is Climate Anxiety?
Climate anxiety means feeling stress or fear about the Earth’s health. It grows as we see extreme weather and hear alarming news. It is not the same as depression, but it affects mental health. People feel helpless or overwhelmed.
Why Yoga Helps
Yoga is more than exercise. It brings calm and focus. In India, yoga connects with nature and inner balance. Yoga’s long roots in Indian traditions make it a natural choice for healing both mind and environment.
Experts say yoga brings mind and body in tune. It helps reduce stress, grow mindfulness, and boost self-awareness. It is both a physical and mental tool for balance.
Breathing in yoga—called pranayama—reminds us how we link with nature. We breathe air that trees give us. We give back air that plants need. This cycle shows how we and Earth are connected.
On International Yoga Day 2025, many spoke about this link. The theme was “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” It asked people to care for their own health and the planet’s health together.
Yoga helps fight anxiety in more ways:
- It brings attention to the present.
- It builds inner strength.
- It connects us with community and nature.
- It teaches non‑violence—even toward the Earth.
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Evidence and Science in India
Studies in India support yoga’s benefits:
A large school study with 2,000 students used a yoga program. It included breathing, basic poses, meditation, and relaxation. After 17 weeks, students had lower stress scores, better attention, improved physical health, and lower stress hormones (cortisol).
India’s youth are turning to yoga. In four big cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru—29% of Gen Z say they do yoga regularly. It helps them handle anxiety, sleep better, and stay focused.
India’s key institutes also support yoga for mental wellness. The Ministry of AYUSH and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga create programs for schools and workplaces. They even launched the ‘Y‑Break’—a quick five‑minute yoga routine for workers. Early reviews show it helps with posture, fatigue, focus, and stress management.
Simple Yoga Practices for Climate Anxiety
Anyone can try these steps at home or outdoors:
- Breathing (Pranayama): Try Anulom‑Vilom (alternate nostril breathing) or Bhramari (humming bee breath). They slow the mind and ease anxiety.
- Calm Poses: Try these beginner-friendly poses:
- Child’s Pose (Balasana)
- Legs‑Up‑the‑Wall (Viparita Karani)
- Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)
- Easy Pose (Sukhasana)
- Cat‑Cow (Marjari‑Bitilasana)
- Corpse Pose (Shavasana)
Hold each for 5–10 breaths. Use soft music or nature sounds if possible.
- Meditation & Mindfulness: Sit quietly. Focus on breath or a mantra. Be aware of the present. Notice thoughts but let them go.
- Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep): This guided rest helps deep relaxation and mental reset.
Yoga and Sustainable Living
Yoga can also guide us toward eco‑friendly choices.
- Practice Ahimsa (non‑violence): In yoga, this means caring—toward ourselves, others, and Earth.
- Live Simply: Yoga teaches that less is more. We can reduce waste, choose careful consumption, and eat mindfully.
- Mindful Breath and Connection: Yoga urges us to notice how we impact Earth. This awareness can lead to sustainable choices and deeper empathy.
Community and Retreats
Sometimes, healing works best together.
India has many retreats where yoga and sustainability meet. Places like Vana in Dehradun or Kaivalyadhama in Maharashtra blend deep yoga with mental wellness and nature immersion.
These retreats offer calm, forest views, Ayurvedic food, and honest support. They help people recharge their spirits and commit to eco‑friendly life.
Real Stories from India
Across cities and towns, people report changes:
A student from Himachal Pradesh, staying in Delhi, felt anxiety grow with pollution. She said, “When I returned to clean air, I felt lighter. It’s not random—it is climate change.” Yoga helped ease her body and mind even when she could not escape the fog.
Final Thoughts
Climate anxiety is real—but we are not powerless.
Yoga offers a path. It is rooted in our culture. It is gentle, proven, and adaptable. It reminds us of personal calm while nurturing Earth.
Start small. A few breaths. One pose. A moment of stillness.
We are not separate from nature. We are part of it. Through yoga, we can heal ourselves—and remember our duty to our shared world.
Author: Sonam
