Why is Yoga Good for Mental Health?

Mental health is a global problem where more and more people suffer from anxiety, stress, depression, etc. The saddest thing is that these mental problems appear in younger and younger people. Many of them do not tend to talk about what is happening to them for fear of being mocked, disbelieved, or minimizing their feelings and emotions. In this way, these people isolate themselves and without knowing how to get out of that mental confinement they have, they suffer a lot.

Why Mental Illness is On The Rise

As you well know, the isolation due to COVID-19 acted as a trigger for many people already suffering from some form of mental illness due to the lockdown. A great separation of families and friends could be observed during this period, which led to the growth of the lack of support among people, who could not be replaced.

For many people, the family was one of the things that gave them emotional and mental stability, because perhaps friends left their side when something bad happened and family offered them support. So we can conclude that today, this family factor, for many people, no longer exists. Nowadays, when you fall, you fall because there are even people nearby who cannot read certain signs.

This happens to many young people today who do not have that safety net because they have not learned not to depend on it. In Indian culture, there was a time when 30% of the population were monks. They consciously chose to live without family, to live without support, to live without a home: homelessness not by deprivation, but by choice. None of them ever had depression because they transcended the need for that family support.

You can also read Unmasking the Misuse of Yoga in the West

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If you learn to live without depending on anyone and you are aware that nobody and nothing in this world is essential, then you will not have problems, but if not, then it is very likely that you will fall into the void if you do not have a containment network. And this is what is happening. That traditional support system that existed, we no longer have.

Other factors may be contributing to the increase in mental illness in today's society. Some of them include:

1. Lifestyle Changes: The way we live our lives today is very different from our ancestors. Many people work long hours, have increased financial stress, and are constantly connected through social media and technology. These lifestyle changes can increase stress and anxiety, which in turn can increase the risk of developing mental illness.

2. Environmental factors: Changes in the environment, such as pollution and climate change, can also have an impact on mental health. For example, some studies have found a correlation between exposure to air pollution and increased anxiety and depression.

3. Biological factors: Some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, have a biological basis. As researchers learn more about the genetics and biology of the brain, they can identify more cases of mental illness that may have previously gone unnoticed.

It is important to keep in mind that there is no single cause for the increase in mental illness and that each person and each situation is unique. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health problems, it is important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Generally, they are the ones who advise practicing yoga as a therapeutic companion.

In India, yoga is a practice that is part of the lifestyle of many people to calm the mind and body through physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation that help relaxation, which is what is sought. The truth is that the benefits of yoga for mental health and our well-being have been studied by different international organizations since it generates positive effects in cases of stress, anxiety, and other mental problems.

Yoga for Mental Health

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If physical health is a very precious asset, then mental health is priceless, because having peace of mind is the success that every human being aspires to.

Unfortunately, in many countries like the United States, 70% of the population lives day to day consuming a medication prescribed by a doctor (according to this study). If we think about it coldly, it is one of the countries where many foreigners want to live, however, it is a population that controls its mental health based on external chemical medicines and that is where the pharmaceutical industry has control.

Emotions in our brain produce chemical changes and both health and disease (generally) are produced by internal chemical changes. Yet we continue to take prescription drugs to deal with this without knowing that we can make internal chemical changes without taking many drugs. What happens is that for this, we have to access our inner side and yoga opens the door to your being. We must learn to be the directors of our lives and not depend on an external agent to manage our psychological dramas. We may not change the world dramas, but we can change what happens in our minds.

Regarding this, Sadhguru says, "Just as you can design the outside, you can also design your inside. Just as there is science and technology to create outer comfort and convenience, there is a whole science and technology to create inner well-being. There is a way of designing your interiority. There are appropriate scientific steps on how you can change the fundamental chemistry of who you are and create a chemistry of happiness. Once you create a chemistry of bliss, you are blissful by your very nature, not by anything else."

And what does science say? According to this new research published in the scientific journal Brain Plasticity, yoga can improve brain function and positively affect the structure of the brain by practicing yoga once or twice a week. According to studies it has been seen that the levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) increase considerably from a consistent yoga practice after the first 90 days. People who have a low Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor develop anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, and emotional exhaustion. This is how the practice of yoga helps to get out of that depressive state since it involves our body, mind, emotions, and energy.

So, we can say that yoga is beneficial for mental health for several reasons:

1. Stress reduction: Yoga focuses on deep breathing and relaxation, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. Regular yoga practice can decrease the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, and increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with well-being and happiness.

2. Mood Improvement: Practicing yoga can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Regular yoga practice has been shown to increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that is associated with relaxation and emotional well-being.

3. Increased body awareness: Yoga helps increase body awareness and the mind-body connection. This can help reduce mental rumination and improve the ability to cope with emotional challenges.

4. Improved sleep quality: Yoga can help improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia problems. The practice of yoga can help to relax the mind and body, reducing the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and promoting relaxation of the body.

5. Reduced inflammation: Chronic stress and inflammation are linked to many physical and mental illnesses. Regular yoga practice can reduce inflammation in the body and promote a healthy anti-inflammatory response.

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Yoga is beneficial for mental health because it helps reduce stress, improve mood, increase body awareness, improve sleep quality, and reduce inflammation in the body.

You can also read The Mind and Its Control

Let’s Practice Yoga Today!

Yoga is a discipline that can help you to be fit, but also through meditation, you can relax your mind and cultivate your soul. With regular practice of Yoga, you will be able to take things more calmly. In addition, the time we have and the situation we are experiencing have created the ideal scenario to start practicing it.

If you have never entered the world of Yoga, you will surely wonder what you need to get down to work. It is true that to do yoga you do not need anything more than a quiet place and a good predisposition. On the other hand, there are also a series of accessories that facilitate its practice.

From here, I propose a series of accessories, clothing, and guides to learn the postures. Choose what you think you need or what suits you best and delve into the discipline of Yoga from your living room.

A Good Mat

One of the most necessary elements to practice yoga at home or in a class is a good mat. They serve to be more comfortable and to avoid hurting your back in certain positions that are adopted in the sessions.

How does this mat have to be? The characteristics with which we must look are, for example, its thickness. Yoga mats are usually quite thin, from three millimeters to one centimeter thick. Although we see them as thin, this thickness is enough to insulate us from the ground (if it is hard or cold) so that they are not very unstable and benefit us when doing balancing asanas. Another thing that we must look at is its long size, you must fit well in it when you are lying down and fully stretched out.

We must also look at the durability of the material and how much we are willing to invest in the mat: a good Yoga mat can last us for years, even if it is a little more expensive.

On Amazon, we can find this premium Boldfit mat made with patented TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) foam, a material that is better than PVC and NBR in all aspects. It is safe, non-slip, hygienic, and hypoallergenic. Extra sized and extra soft at 13L x 13W x 61Th Centimeters.

You can find your yoga mat here!

Comfortable Clothes

The most important thing to practice Yoga is to feel comfortable with the clothes we wear. It doesn't matter if we feel better with wide pants and an oversized T-shirt or with leggings and a top. The comfort and adaptability to perform the different asanas or postures should be the most important factor when choosing clothes to practice Yoga.

A good option is baggy pants because they allow complete freedom of movement when stretching or crossing your legs. On the other hand, we have leggings, they are also a type of pants widely used for Yoga or Pilates because of how comfortable they are and the flexibility they allow.

I propose this one from BlissClub Fitness Pvt Ltd, ideal for sports because it is of excellent quality. We can combine them with a loose shirt that we have at home or with a sports top that will allow us more freedom of movement.

Did you like these leggings? Find it out here!

Non-Slip Socks

We can also get non-slip socks that allow freedom of movement and offer the sensation of going barefoot but with protected feet.

Find these great non-slip socks here!

Yoga Accessories

It is not essential to use accessories to practice Yoga but they can facilitate the practice of this discipline. The accessories most used by yogis are two: straps and blocks.

Yoga straps or belts are intended to facilitate stretching and some postures. They are usually made of nylon or cotton and are very durable. This premium Yoga belt from Boldfit is made from durable 100% cotton.

Do you need these yoga straps? Find it here!

On the other hand, Yoga blocks look like small bricks made of cork or foam that, like the straps, help to facilitate certain positions.

These TEGO blocks are made of ecological high-density EVA foam for a long duration.

Find your yoga block here!

Meditation Cushion

To meditate you must be relaxed, maintain a correct posture, and feel comfortable. Only then can you spend a few minutes trying to leave your mind blank and connect with yourself. For this, it is essential to have a good cushion to place under the buttocks, so your back will be straighter.

For this, you can use a cushion that you have at home that is firm. But, if you don't have one that is comfortable for you, you can get one specially designed for meditation. I propose this one from the Nextgo brand, a 60 x 76 CM / 24 x 30'' INCH / 2 x 2.5 FEET cushion, with polyester gel fiber filling and feather touch.

Find your yoga cushion here!

Books

These days you can find multiple Yoga instructors on the internet who explain and teach you how to do the main Yoga postures from home. But if you want to go deeper into the subject and learn much more about this discipline, you can get a book that explains much more about the subject.

Find this great book here!

Would you like to read this book? Find yours here!

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