Yoga and Well-being(1/2)
If you’re looking to improve your mental health and overall sense of well-being, a focus on deep breathing and gentle stretching through the practice of yoga may help.
Yoga is considered one of the oldest forms of exercise, and although there are many different styles, from gentle to rigorous, yoga practice generally involves stretching, breathing and a period of deep relaxation or meditation.
A growing number of studies from the 1970s to today suggest that yoga can have a positive outcome for people managing symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress, among other benefits.
Harvard Medical School believes there is growing evidence that yoga is a relatively low-risk, high-benefit approach to improving overall health.
Marked this month, the UN International Day of Yoga on June 21 aims to raise awareness of the many benefits, including physical and psychological, of practising yoga.
Here’s a brief guide to getting started with yoga for mental health and wellbeing.
Yoga, mental health and Wellbeing
Yoga is a form of physical exercise that involves different body poses, breathing techniques and meditation.
Regular practice of yoga may help to:
- Relieve stress
- Lower anxiety levels
- Decrease depression
- Improve sleep quality
- Enhance the quality of life
Yoga is thought to achieve these benefits in several ways:
- As an exercise, it naturally produces serotonin, sometimes called the happy chemical, because it contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. Serotonin in the brain is a natural mood stabiliser associated with helping regulate anxiety and stress.
- Regular yoga practice teaches deep focus and mindful breathing, two important elements in helping to relieve depression. Participants can better focus on the present, clear their minds and strengthen the mind-body connection.
- Mental endurance and physical stamina are tested through holding postures through extended breaths. This increases endurance, strength and flexibility.
- It helps modulate the stress response, reducing heart rate, lowering blood pressure and easing respiration. This may also help in managing pain tolerance.
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