Yoga for mental health

Yoga is a systematic method for increasing and maintaining physical and emotional health. It uses postures, breathing exercises and simple forms of meditation. Yoga can be very effective in helping to come to terms with some of the routine and more challenging experiences of life.

Yoga enhances self-awareness, both on the physical and the mental level, enabling us to observe our thoughts and feelings whilst not having to identify with them: “that thought is present” instead of “ I am that thought”. It encourages you to feel the feeling rather than identifying with the thoughts.

With each session we aim for the student to build on their inner strength and awareness. This will help to break through old patterns, past conditioning and limiting self beliefs. Students of yoga will be able to face their challenges with more acceptance and compassion.

Greater awareness enables empowerment which can also help break the isolation often associated with depression and leaves one feeling more connected: to self, others and nature.

Yoga can lead to elevated moods and a sense of well being, reducing anxiety. It does this partly through increasing alpha waves, promoting a more optimistic outlook and reducing the stress hormone cortisol. In turn it increases the feel-good hormones prolactin and oxcytocin.

On a physical level it brings you much more in touch with how your body is allowing you to become more conscious and actively engaged in your health.

In short, it can provide a proactive and empowering set of tools for self management of physical and psychological symptoms. It gives us greater self awareness and self acceptance, activating our innate healing capacities and deepening our sense of inner power and ease.