Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
Unhealthy lifestyles, bad eating habits, and an increase in work-related stress are all factors contributing to an increase in mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
With greater awareness of these mental health disorders and a preference for complementary therapies before seeking go-to treatments, it’s no surprise that yoga provides several mental advantages.
If you are looking for ways to improve your mental health and overall sense of well-being, the practice of yoga may help.
Yoga has been acknowledged to be a scientific approach to relieving stress and easing the stress of modern-day living.
Regular practitioners tout yoga’s ability to develop endurance and confidence, and also to relax the mind, boost mood, and eventually build immunity.
How can yoga help your mental health?
The practise of yoga asanas dates back thousands of years. Since ancient times, they have been a component of Indian culture.
When adopted as a daily practice, yogic practices are shown to have numerous advantages, one of which is the ability to enhance mental health and well-being.
Therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists frequently advocate that yoga is comparable to other treatments, such as medication and psychotherapy.
Yoga is a type of physical exercise that includes various body positions, breathing techniques, and meditation. Yoga practice on a regular basis may aid in:
- Relaxation of the mind
- Aiding concentration
- Enhancement of your mood
- Building confidence
- Increased level of patience
- Relieves symptoms of insomnia
Relaxes the mind
One of the primary reasons doctors advocate the holistic yoga practice is that the poses include intricate postures and breathing techniques that can have a positive outcome for people struggling with depression, anxiety or stress.
These postures help you cleanse your body and mind systematically by removing the build-up of tension.
Aids concentration
Those suffering from conditions such as Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently encouraged to try yoga since it helps to relax and centre the body while also assisting the mind in focusing.
Because ADHD impacts focus and attention retention, practising postures help in keeping fluctuating thoughts and distractions at bay that helps focus and concentrate better.
Enhances your mood
According to researchers, yoga may be superior to other types of exercise in terms of its favourable effect on mood and anxiety.
Consistent yoga practice enhances the functions of hormones that help to maintain a positive attitude and combat common mental health conditions such as depression.
Yoga is recommended by therapists for mental serenity, attention, and mood improvement. This is an excellent technique to help control bipolar disorder, which causes mood swings.
Aids in building confidence
It has been demonstrated that performing expansive yoga poses can help those who are struggling with self-esteem issues; a lack of confidence or self-esteem is frequently cited as a cause of sadness and anxiety.
Performing expansive yoga poses helps to centre your body and boost your self-esteem.
Yoga breathing also aids in the removal of self-doubt from the psyche.
Increases patience
A lack of patience is a common side effect of mental diseases. Impatience serves to create anxiety and chaos in life.
Yoga serves to alleviate that anxiety by teaching patience. This results in uncontrollable angry outbursts.
Practising yoga contains a variety of breathing exercises known as pranayama that slowly force you to grow patience.
These exercises will increase your patience and feeling of inner equilibrium, as well as help you avoid angry outbursts.
Relieves symptoms of insomnia
Various studies have demonstrated positive psychological and physical outcomes on sleep patterns in those suffering from sleep disorders.
Regular yoga practice leads to a considerable reduction in the time it takes to fall asleep, an increase in the total number of hours slept, and a feeling of being rested in the morning.
Final thoughts
Yoga has been shown to be incredibly good for one’s health. It is one of the most effective lifestyle improvements you can make.
You will notice an improvement in your health if you practise yoga on a regular basis. Your body will be in good shape, and your mind will be at ease.
However, it is not a cure-all for mental health issues. Yoga can be used to supplement therapy, and if medication is required, it is the best option.
Consult your therapist to choose the most effective mental health treatment strategy for you.
Moreover, you should also frequently opt for health screening. It provides you with vital insights into your health, allowing you to take necessary measures to improve it.
