Yoga and Mental Health

How Yoga Helps You Overcome Hardship

It’s common knowledge physical activity can help on all sorts of levels – it releases stress, builds muscle, helps your metabolism and boosts self-confidence. But how does Yoga help you on a more emotional and mental health level? What benefits does a regular practice bring you in relation to the struggles and hardships you may face in life?

• Reduces stress and anxiety – Practicing yoga regularly (3 times a week) has been proven to elevate GABA (Aminobutyric Acid) levels in the brain which helps you relax, improves mood and lowers anxiety.

• Helps Fight Depression – Depression is quickly on the rise in today’s society and the drug companies know. It seems every third commercial is for the latest miracle drug to elevate your mood, the new antidepressant to make everything better.  But medications come with side effects, so turn to all natural yoga instead! Regular yoga practice increases BDNF, serotonin and cortisol levels in the brain – which all act as your body’s natural antidepressants, while decreasing the monoamine oxidase enzyme, which breaks down neurotransmitters.

• Brain Health – Yoga elevates levels of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), a protein that acts as a natural antidepressant and a major factor in overall brain health. Practicing INTENSE YOGA regularly will raise your BDNF levels which helps fight Alzheimer’s, advanced aging, depression and schizophrenia along with other neurotransmitter dysfunctions.

• Helps with Psychiatric and Anger/Impulse Control Disorders – A large part of yoga practice is meditation, breathing, listening to your body. Meditation helps lower tension and hostility; and lowers blood pressure when angry. This ability to slow down and focus helps you gain perspective when feeling frustration, anger, regret or rage.

• Helps Insomnia – a Harvard study showed that 8 weeks of daily yoga practice significantly improves sleep habits for people with insomnia.  Getting enough sleep will help in your overall ability to deal with the hurdles life can through at you.

• Protects Against Brain Aging – helps keep the part of the brain responsible for positive emotions and relaxation active, improves memory and concentration.  Raised GABA and BDNF levels both considerably help keep the brain young and healthy!

• Helps Self-Esteem – Yoga encourages acceptance and self-care. Loving yourself and being comfortable in your own body can have huge positive effects on all aspects of your life. The more you practice, the better you’ll feel.

These are a few of the ways yoga helps with mental health, there are dozens more benefits to a regular yoga practice, physically, physiological and psychological.  Yoga has been around for centuries, a holistic method of self-healing and self-awareness. Not only will you benefit mentally but you’ll be amazed at the physical transformation you will go through as well, so what are you waiting for? Start practising today you beautiful yogi you and come to one of our Yoga Retreats!