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Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health awareness month is a wonderful time to learn more about the benefits of consistent yoga and/or meditation practice for our mental health.  This May marks the 75th year of observed mental health awareness month in the United States. It first started in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental well-being.  Recently, you may have noticed more coverage of this topic in news and media outlets, and for good reason.

Yoga and meditation offer numerous mental health benefits, making them popular practices for stress relief and overall well-being.  The combination of physical movement and controlled breathing in yoga enhances your mood and decreases stress hormones. Meditation, on the other hand, provides a quiet time to focus and center the mind. This can improve concentration, increase self-awareness, and foster a sense of inner peace.  Both practices encourage a calm, balanced mind and are effective tools for managing the pressures of daily life, leading to a more positive outlook and improving emotional health. Mind/body practices could be a valuable tool for improved mental health.

I offer affordable, accessible, and enjoyable online yoga and meditation classes.  If you have been looking for an entry point to this life- changing practice, learn more about my offerings here. 

Mental Health Month and Yoga

mental health awareness month yogaLet me begin by saying the data on the mental health crisis in this country is staggering.  I feel I have barely scraped the surface by sharing the statistics below.  Without a doubt, many people are struggling, oftentimes in silence.  If you or someone you love has mental health concerns, please reach out to a physician or mental health facility.  Additionally, there is also a national helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

  • Mental illness affects more than 50 million, over 20% of adult Americans.
  • Anxiety at 19.1%, and depression at 8.3% are the most common form of mental health illness.
  •  Substance use disorder (33.5%) is often a part of mental illness.
  • More than half of U.S. adults with a mental illness (55%) are going without treatment, according to a recent study by Mental Health America.
  • Mental illness is not just an adult problem, 17% of teens aged 12-17 have experienced a major depressive episode.
  • Learn more about the research here.

Of course, there is never a substitute for seeking medical attention for a mental illness or any other healthcare need.  However, supplementing yoga and meditation in addition to traditional treatment, can offer numerous benefits for your mental health and wellness.  In this article we will uncover some of the far-reaching benefits of yoga and meditation and why you should add the practices to your life.

Stress Reduction for Mental Health:

  • Yoga: The combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques helps lower cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone.  Yoga can even be done from a chair!  Learn more about chair yoga here. 
  • Meditation: Practicing meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes a state of calm and relaxation, reducing the overall stress response.

Improved Anxiety Management:

  • Yoga: Regular practice can decrease symptoms of anxiety through the release of tension in the body and the calming of the mind.
  • Meditation: Mindfulness meditation, in particular, helps individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, reducing the intensity of anxiety.

Improvement of Mood and Emotional Stability:

  • Yoga: Physical activity releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Yoga also helps regulate the nervous system, improving emotional resilience.
  • Meditation: Consistent meditation practice can increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with feelings of happiness and well-being.

Better Focus and Concentration:

  • Yoga: The practice requires concentration and mindfulness, which can enhance cognitive function and attention span over time.
  • Meditation: Meditation techniques such as focused attention meditation help improve the ability to concentrate by training the mind to remain focused on a single point of reference.

Enhanced Self-Awareness:

  • Yoga: Encourages a connection between mind and body, promoting greater self-awareness and understanding of one’s physical and emotional states.
  • Meditation: Mindfulness meditation helps individuals become more aware of their thoughts and emotions without judgment, fostering a deeper understanding of oneself.

Increased Emotional Regulation:

  • Yoga: The practice helps in balancing the autonomic nervous system, making it easier to manage emotions and respond to stressors more effectively.
  • Meditation: Techniques like mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation improve emotional regulation by encouraging non-reactive and compassionate responses to difficult emotions.
  • Loving Kindness:  Try my guided loving kindness meditation here. 

Better Sleep Quality:

  • Yoga: Incorporating restorative poses and breathing exercises can improve sleep quality by promoting relaxation and reducing insomnia.
  • Meditation: Regular meditation practice helps calm the mind, reducing the restless thoughts that can interfere with sleep, leading to deeper and more restful sleep.
  • Yoga Nidra is also an excellent tool for insomnia.  Learn more about Yoga Nidra here. 

Reduced Symptoms of Depression:

  • Yoga: The physical activity, combined with the mental focus required, can alleviate symptoms of depression by increasing the production of mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain.
  • Meditation: Meditation helps in breaking the cycle of negative thinking patterns often associated with depression, fostering a more positive and balanced outlook on life.

Final Thoughts:

As a yoga teacher, I often feel a deep connection with my students.  Interesting enough, prior to following this path, I worked for many years with cancer patients.  I have seen people struggle with anxiety, depression, and other debilitating ailments for years.  Before my yoga training, I had no idea how beneficial these practices could be for our emotional health.  I just knew I felt lighter after my practice.

Yoga and mediation can offer an incredible tool for our stressful modern lives.  Mental health awareness month reminds us of this.  I offer affordable, accessible, and enjoyable online yoga and meditation classes.  If you have been looking for an entry point to this life-changing practice, learn more about my offerings here.