Yoga is a mind and body practice that has been around for thousands of years. It originates from India and has now spread all over the world with classes available in most towns and cities, as well as online. Many people choose to do yoga to improve their flexibility, strength and physical health, yet what about those who practice purely to benefit their mental state?
A recent study showed how yoga can be beneficial for those suffering with depression. A 12 week program of Yoga was given to 14 adults aged between 18-60 who had mild or moderate depression and this was compared to 13 participants with moderate depression that did not do the Yoga program. The results showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety and sleep quality in the group who did Yoga compared with participants that did not.
This is great news for those looking to use Yoga as a means of helping or even curing their mental illness. However, it is important to remember that not everyone will be able to do all yoga poses and using variations or modifications to the poses allows the participate to choose what is right for their body shape and how you are designed and to be aware of your restrictions.
Yoga has been shown time and again to help people suffering with mild or moderate depression by reducing stress levels and gloomy thoughts. Yoga is suitable for all levels and requires great focus and concentration which can help people suffering from mental illness by helping them to acknowledge and then let go of the stresses of everyday life.
Although it is not yet well known that Yoga can have positive effects on mental illness, this may well change in the future when more evidence emerges about how helpful it is to those with this condition.
If you are thinking about doing some Yoga, speak to your doctor before embarking on any exercise program, especially if you have any mental health conditions.
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