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Yoga and Mental Health

Most people usually take up yoga because they are looking for a way to get fit. Yoga helps to build strength, endurance and flexibility as well as helping with weight loss. There are several yoga styles and so it is available to almost everyone regardless of their fitness level.

Many people do not realise until after they begin taking yoga classes that the mental benefits of regular yoga practice are just as profound as the physical benefits. A few of the mental benefits of yoga include the following:

1. Focus on the moment

Many people strive for the ability to focus on the moment and to allow the past and the future to fade away. It’s in this moment that we feel the most calm, joyful and relaxed. Yet with so much happening in our daily life it can be extremely difficult to focus on the moment. Most people have appointments and a schedule to keep so focusing on the moment may seem impossible.

Yoga allows you to be completely present and aware of the moment. All thoughts about the mistakes you made yesterday and the things you have to do tomorrow fade away as you try to hold a pose and focus on your breathing. It’s meditative and, even for the short duration of a yoga class, you will feel more positive about yourself, your day, and your life. This positive attitude boosts your overall mental health in a powerful way.

2. Reduces Stress

There are several aspects of yoga that help to reduce your stress levels. The focused breathing alone has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (the main stress hormone in the body) and lower blood pressure. Additionally, as you exercise endorphins are released. These endorphins help to improve your mood and help with stress management.

3. Emotional Balance

A study was conducted with 11th and 12th graders in high school. During these developmental years emotional balance is very difficult to achieve as teenagers usually struggle with anger, depression and stress. The study found that teenagers who took a yoga class instead of a traditional physical education class reported feeling more balanced and in control of their emotions.

Yoga reduces stress, increases your body’s ability to manage stress, and forces you to focus in the moment. These lessons of living in the moment and approaching problems with a clear mind can be embraced throughout the day, thus providing a stronger sense of control, balance, and mental wellbeing.