How Can Yoga Support Your Mental Health?
Did you ever stop to wonder if doing your favorite yoga pose has any positive effects on your mental health? If yes, you will be happy to know that yoga does far more than give you the body of your dreams. Whenever you do a workout such as lifting weights, you end up strengthening your muscles. Similarly, you strengthen your brain cells while improving your cognitive skills like memory and learning by doing yoga.
Yoga and mental health go hand in hand. Research has proven time and again how yoga helps in improving a person’s mental health by enhancing their mood and reducing anxiety levels. In this article, we will discuss mental benefits of yoga how yoga helps to enhance your mental health, allowing you to lead a healthier and happier life.
Effective Stress Buster:
Yoga is known for its stress-busting qualities, thanks to its instant relaxing power. Various studies have proven that yoga has the power to reduce the secretion of 'cortisol', otherwise known as the stress hormone. A study that focused on women suffering from stress revealed that after 3 months of doing yoga, they had significantly low cortisol levels and reduced anxiety and stress.
If you feel that your body is being overloaded with stress and tension, why not practice a stress-busting yoga routine? You will be amazed at the results.
Fight Off Depression:
What is one mental condition that profoundly affects one's mental health? You guessed it, depression. Not only does it suck out the energy out of one's body, but it also affects their daily routine and overall life. The good news is that yoga has the power of fighting depression, leading to a more positive mental state. Some studies have also been conducted that prove yoga has the power to reduce depression by lowering the levels of cortisol.
In one study, participants focused on one specific kind of yoga involving a certain breathing pattern. After doing it for two weeks, the participants showed reduced levels of cortisol and lesser depression. They also displayed a reduced level of ACTH, the hormone that controls the release of cortisol.
Thanks to the results that these studies revealed, it is safe to say that yoga for mental health help to effectively reduce depression.
Promotes Peaceful Sleep:
Who doesn't want to lay down after an entire day of working hard and enjoy a night of peaceful slumber? Sleepless nights are usually associated with stress, anxiety, obesity, health problems, and depression. Time and again, studies have proven that practicing yoga helps with promoting a better quality of sleep.
According to a study carried out in 2005, a group of elderly people was assigned to either take a herbal remedy or practice yoga. The group that practiced yoga was better rested, fell asleep faster and for a longer duration compared to the other group.
Since yoga has the power to effectively reduce depression, anxiety, and stress, it is no surprise that a person who regularly practices yoga for mental health will sleep better.
Anxiety Buster:
Several people, who regularly practice yoga, tend to do it to battle their anxiety, and there is no surprise that several studies also prove this. For example, in one study, a lady who suffered from an anxiety disorder took part in yoga classes. After two months, it was found that she had significantly reduced anxiety levels.
Yoga is all about living in the present and focusing all your energy on breathing while blocking out all forms of negativity. Once a person starts being more aware of their mental well-being and concentrates only on the positive aspects of their life, they will enjoy better mental health.
Reduces Symptoms of PTSD:
Those who suffer from PTSD know how difficult it is to cope with it and get on with their daily life. The good news is that practicing yoga regularly will allow you to easily overcome any bouts of PTSD that you might be facing. A study carried out in 2014 focused on women who were suffering from PTSD. They took a ten-week yoga treatment to notice the results at the end of the treatment.
When the study concluded, results revealed that among the women who practiced the treatment, 52% did not have any signs of PTSD. So it is safe to say that yoga is an effective and natural way to combat PTSD.
Wrapping It Up:
Yoga is an age-old practice that has been known to alleviate stress while improving a person's mental and physical health. If you feel you need to give your mental health a boost, do give yoga a try; you will be amazed at the positive results it will have on your mind, body, and soul.