The Sunday Times has listed the Dahon Cadenza as a cure for depression, among self help books and omega 3-rich oils:
Regular physical activity stimulates the production of neurotransmitter chemicals called endorphins in the brain. They lift your mood and give you more energy, and cycling is a great way to achieve this while saving time getting from A to B.
Good point, wrong bike.
I don’t know the chemical reasoning, but equally important as simple physical activity, is to ‘open the chest’. Kate Hanley explains it well:
One of the best ways I know to keep the dark clouds at bay is to do yoga poses that open the chest, home of the heart. B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the world’s greatest living yoga gurus who is largely responsible for introducing yoga to the West, says, “If you keep your armpits open, you won’t get depressed.” While it might sound like wacky advice, think about the typical posture of a depressed person: head hanging, chin drooping, shoulders rounded forward, and heart completely closed off. Try sitting that way and see how it makes you feel. Yuck, right? Now try rolling your shoulders up and back and lifting your head. Much better.
(NOTE: When Iyengar says armpits, he’s referring to the area where your arm attaches to your chest, not necessarily the part where you shave – you don’t have to walk around with your hands above your head to stay happy.)
Doctor Velorution therefore recommends an Azor roadster, a Pedersen or the wonderful Retrovelo, now also available in ladies version, as pictured above (courtesy of RadFahren).
Or to keep the shoulders ‘open’, perhaps wide bars versus narrow?
Sorry, but when I see women dressed like I start to experience anxiety and depression. :^P
I meant, “dressed like THAT”, of course. See, I’m already flustered.
[...] You sit differently on a Dutch utility bike than on other kinds of bikes still in common use. How you sit has a big influence not only on your comfort and capacity to move, but on your mind. Just as laughing and smiling, even forcibly, can help lift a foul mood, sitting utterly upright with your shoulders thrust back and your “armpits open” exerts a powerful influence on one’s mind. It is serene, dignified, meditative. Mix well with endorphins and you start to understand why bicycling is so popular in the Netherlands. I love watching people set off on Dutch bikes for the first time, seeing the initial wobbles of the light steering relax a block later into a yogic smile and regal poise. [...]
[...] You sit differently on a Dutch utility bike than on other kinds of bikes still in common use in America. How you sit has a big influence not only on your comfort and capacity to move, but on your mind. Just as laughing and smiling, even forcibly, can help lift a foul mood, sitting utterly upright, head high with your shoulders thrust back to “open your heart” exerts a powerful influence on your mind. It is serene, restorative, dignified. Mix well with endorphins and you’re getting there. I love watching people set off on Dutch bikes for the first time, seeing the initial wobbles of the unweighted handlebars relax a block later into a yogic smile and regal poise. [...]
Atarax (hydroxyzine) for Anxiety: I take this along with Lexapro… I was having such hard times falling asleep due to nine million things going on through the day … then the anxiety kicked in…sometimes I would be up for hours while everyone is sound to sleep…When I started taking this I fall asleep within thirty mins and usually sleep sound. It is not addicting… and good price for the good things the meds do
It sounds funny but you made me try what you had said, and it feels oh so great!! you reminded me to have a break after a long day of work… taking yoga will surely do =)
I meant, “dressed like THAT”, of course. See, I'm already flustered.