Benefits of yoga for mental health

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice. It is a way of living, a philosophy, and an art form rolled into one. Yoga is all about moving the body to stretch, strengthen, relax and balance the mind, body, and spirit.

Benefits for mental health

Yoga, when used in conjunction with therapy, and other complementary modalities such as mind-body medicine, massage therapy, and reiki, has been used to treat PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety and has shown long-lasting beneficial effects for people who practice regularly.  Why is this?

Like most exercises, Yoga naturally increases the serotonin levels in our brain which boosts our mood. The meditative and breathwork part of yoga also generates a sense of calmness and relaxation, which reduces anxiety and puts our body in a relaxed stress-free state. This relaxed stress-free state makes our body optimal for healing, respiration, digestion, and all our regulatory systems to work properly. 

Mind Body Medicine

Yoga is a complementary therapy that is categorized as mind-body medicine. This means that, as a practice, it uses the power of thoughts, mindfulness, and emotions to influence physical health. These are beneficial for mental and physical health and include practices such as meditation, breathing techniques, and tai chi, which connect your breath to your body and mind to promote health and decrease stress. 

There are many types of breathing techniques you can do during yoga.  A deep and steady breath that you can come to during before and after practice helps you feel grounded, focused, and calm amidst adversity.  Try this one here: the Ujjayi Breath. Seal your lips and breathe deeply through the back of your throat to your nose. Hold it for a few moments, and as you exhale, keep your lips sealed and slowly let it out through your nose. Notice how you feel. After a few tries, go back to breathing as normal.