The Concept of Yoga for Mental Health
“ I am going to be a yoga girlie”. - Jade circa 2015
I had always admired people that did yoga because they seemed to have an ease and airiness to them that I always yearned for. So I took my first yoga class in college to see if this was something that I could achieve. I expected to stretch and hold poses for a while. I did not expect the spiritual ascension that would accompany that first class. I learned that yoga is not a workout class and many of the postures have deeper objectives that go beyond simple stretching and strengthening of muscles. In fact, the postures that we have learned from yoga are just one of eight limbs of yoga. Yoga is a practice that connects the mind, body, and soul together. The original yoga practices of ancient India are a comprehensive system that includes ethical guidelines, breath control, meditation, and physical postures, and is deeply rooted in spiritual and philosophical traditions.
During the beginning of the pandemic, I turned to yoga as a stress relief. I was already struggling with anxiety and panic. When I learned of the news of George Floyd I didn’t take it very well. I signed off of all social media and began to look inward and question things that I had never needed to examine before. I began to do yoga 3 times a day as a coping mechanism. Although that seemed a bit extreme it was the only thing that I looked forward to. To be honest, it was a very transformative time for me. Yoga has always been there for me and has brought a sense of warmth and calm that I cannot put into words.
It has been shown to provide a number of mental health benefits, including:
Stress reduction: Practicing yoga can help to reduce stress by calming the mind and relaxing the body. Yoga has been shown to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can contribute to anxiety and depression.
Improved mood: Yoga has been shown to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression. It can also increase feelings of well-being and contentment.
Anxiety reduction: Yoga can help reduce anxiety symptoms by promoting relaxation and reducing tension in the body.
Better sleep: Practicing yoga can help to improve sleep quality and duration, which can have a positive impact on mental health.
Increased mindfulness: Yoga promotes mindfulness, which involves being present and aware of one's thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. This can help to reduce negative thinking patterns and increase overall emotional regulation.
Improved self-esteem: Yoga can help to increase self-esteem and self-confidence by promoting a sense of inner strength and resilience.
Overall, the mental health benefits of yoga make it a valuable tool for improving well-being and reducing the impact of stress and mental health conditions. If you decide that practicing yoga is on your path, please be sure to respect the practice in its entirety.