While it is a fact that yoga does wonders for your physical health, a lot of recent research has pointed out that performing yoga on a regular basis and going to yoga retreats is also beneficial for your mental well-being. After all, yoga is not just a series of physical exercises, it’s a way of living that focuses on the all-round development of the individual—mental, spiritual, and physical—because all of them are interconnected and interdependent.
The effects of ancient practice on the brain have received special attention since the 1970s and are still being studied, with researchers increasingly paying attention to hatha yoga’s role in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is one of the most popular forms of yoga practiced by people who take yoga vacations in the West. It has three important parts; physical exercises or poses, that are combined with different techniques of breathing, followed by meditation. All this, when done correctly, benefits the person’s mental and emotional health.
Let’s look at some of the mental health benefits of making yoga a part of your life:
It soothes the flight or fight response
The fight or flight response is activated to prepare the body and the mind to face or withdraw from a potentially harmful situation. This physiological reaction to stressors triggers the release of adrenaline that gives you a temporary boost of energy, increases your heart rate and breathing rate— all of which is helpful when you need to take quick and prompt action.
But when this becomes perpetual, the body and the mind feels acute stress. Studies have proved that performing yoga can regulate the fight or flight response thus having a calming effect on the body and also helping people with severe depression and anxiety.
It helps one to control one’s anger
While anger is a natural emotion, it can damage your relationships with others. It is also detrimental to your well-being if you experience it all the time.
Performing yoga is a great way to channelize all the pent-up frustration and energy into something constructive and positive. It relaxes and calms the body and helps you to process the emotion instead of avoiding it altogether.
In fact, studies have exhibited that yoga is extremely effective in helping adolescents deal with unhealthy emotions such as jealousy, envy, and excessive anger.
The benefits of yoga are numerous as it enhances your relationship with yourself. It helps you to realize your potential and gives you the inner strength to work on your weaknesses. Sign up for Guided Meditation Classes today if you want to experience how life-changing yoga can be.