Doing yoga can impact on Mental Health and Well-being: Today we are learning how the practice of yoga can reduce anxiety and depression, improve cognitive skills, and promote emotional well-being through specific poses and mindfulness practice. I am a regular Yoga girly and I have found that it really helps me and my mental health also its normally a bit easier to do than a hit workout especially if like me you have lived in a UK flat built in the 70s that has zero sound proofing. (Don't worry I have a house now but I still love a bit of yoga for clearing the mind and stretching my crooked joints).
Introduction to the Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health and Well-being
Yoga is not just a physical exercise; it is a holistic practice that offers a wide range of benefits for mental health and well-being. By incorporating yoga into daily routines, you can experience a reduction in anxiety and depression, improved cognitive skills, enhanced mental clarity, reduced stress levels, and better quality of sleep. Even a short daily practice of yoga, as little as 20 minutes, can bring significant improvements in both physical and mental health.
One specific example of how yoga benefits mental health is by triggering the release of "feel-good" brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters play a crucial role in regulating mood, relieving depression, and reducing stress, contributing to an overall sense of well-being and mental balance.
The Impact of Yoga on Mental Health
Yoga has a profound impact on mental health by promoting the development of new brain connections and enhancing cognitive skills like memory and learning. Research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of yoga in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, with long-lasting benefits compared to other conventional therapies. Additionally, regular yoga practice has been found to lead to a thicker cerebral cortex and hippocampus, countering age-related cognitive decline (such as things like dementia).
For individuals struggling with mental health conditions, such as PTSD, yoga serves as an effective complementary treatment by helping to reduce intrusive memories and emotional arousal through calming breathing techniques.
Specific Yoga Poses and Practices for Mental Health
Certain yoga poses and practices are particularly beneficial for managing anxiety and depression. Poses like downward dog, warrior II, and tree pose can help alleviate symptoms of these mental health issues. Furthermore, practices like laughing yoga and yoga for relaxation have been found to be effective in managing anxiety and promoting emotional well-being.
Regular yoga practice not only aids in reducing stress but also enhances mental clarity, boosts mood, improves attention span, and fosters a sense of inner peace and calmness.
The Connection Between Yoga, Mindfulness, and Mental Health
Yoga philosophy emphasises the interconnectedness of mind and body, promoting self-empowerment and positive mind-states for healing. By incorporating mindfulness practices during yoga sessions, individuals can reduce stress-related illnesses, enhance overall health, and improve emotional well-being. Beyond physical activities, yoga fosters emotional health by enhancing emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and self-reflection.
Significance of International Yoga Day in Promoting Mental Wellness
International Yoga Day aims to highlight the importance of yoga in promoting mental wellness and overall health. Celebrating this day raises awareness about the therapeutic effects of yoga on various health conditions. The global initiative of International Yoga Day encourages individuals to incorporate yoga into their daily routines for mental clarity and emotional balance.
Yoga as a Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Mental Well-being
Yoga is recognised as a holistic approach to health, promoting strength, flexibility, and well-being, with roots in a 3,000-year-old tradition. The eight limbs of yoga focus on ethical principles, physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation for enhancing mental and physical well-being. Yoga therapy involves using yoga postures and practices to treat health conditions, improve strength, flexibility, and overall well-being.
How to Get Started Practicing Yoga
Whether you are just starting out on your mental health journey or been on the healing journey for a long time I think its always worth adding to the ways you can better look out for your mental health. Yoga has been apart of my journey for about 6 of the 10 years and honestly I think it has reset my mindset more times than I can count especially with my anxiety.
If you are struggling to get started with yoga my suggestion would be try YouTube, there are so many amazing creators that offer different yoga flows, or if you prefer an App with more options than Yoga try FitOn as they also offer some brill videos for you to follow and they have a range of other exercises to follow! My personal favourite are any by Kenta Seki.
In terms of equipment you don't need much, priorities would be a mat, block, and some leggings or pants, a vest or a sports bra and most importantly a water bottle.
Some of my favs that I currently use are linked below:
- Yoga or fitness matt can be found here. I have had this mat honestly for about 3 years and she is still going strong! It comes in loads of different colours and can be rolled up and stored away if like me you are working with minimal storage space - mine lives under the sofa at the moment!
- Yoga block here. These are best value for quality, I have had these nearly a year and must say they are working well.
- Leggings or pants I choose are here. I completely understand that everyone has their own preferences but I love adidas leggings personally as they have a tie string so they don't keep falling down and are high waisted to hid my sweeties fuelled body. For a more loose fit I recommend Tescos for actual yoga pants or for tracksuits I have recently been absolutely loving these from H&M.
- Sports Bra - again I am a bit of a sucker for Adidas being that I am part of the itty bitty titty committee however, I know that there are plenty of better choices out there that offer variety, Runners World has a good recommendation post here to help.
- Water bottle - you should definitely be drinking 2 litres a day regardless on whether you take yoga up or not but I highly recommend a metal one that is thermos in style so your water stays cold. I got mine in the middle isle at Aldi for about £5 for a 500ml. They annoyingly no longer do my one so this is probably the closest I could find both in price and quality on Amazon.
Let me know how you find yoga if you are trying for the first time, or if you regularly practice in the comments below!
Founder, The Affordable Therapy Co.
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