8 April 2021
How yoga can benefit your mental health
Yoga is not only a great workout for the body – it also has amazing benefits for the mind. Here are five ways practicing yoga can improve your mental health.
- Dissipate Anger
Consistent yoga practice has been shown to increase your ability to control and let go of anger in a more healthy way. Practicing yoga has also been shown to decrease verbal aggression in adults.
- Relieve Anxiety
Various studies have found that yoga can help decrease anxiety symptoms, in a range of settings and can also reduce stress levels. It works by regulating your stress response system, reducing your heart rate and even your blood pressure – all things that anti-anxiety medication helps to do. Yoga practice is a great way to clear your mind of thoughts so you can focus on the present, making sure you don’t get stuck in negative thought fixation; bringing balance and peace back into your hectic life.
- Improve Sleep
Consistent yoga practice can help you sleep better and for longer, and can even help to manage symptoms of insomnia. Those who make yoga a part of their routine find they fall asleep quicker, sleep for longer, and go back to sleep more easily after waking up at night.
- Boost Mood
Studies have shown yoga can help reduce depression and help stabilise your mood. Yoga helps to boost your GABA levels, a neurotransmitter in your brain that’s responsible for the way you feel. Low levels of GABA are associated with feelings of depression so by increasing your levels you can make positive steps to increase your mood.
- Improve Concentration
Research has shown that yoga can boost concentration and memory skills because you have to focus during your practice. To get the most out of your yoga practice you really have to turn inward and listen to your body and that inner voice. It’s this concentration that your brain becomes accustomed to and you can use it outside of your yoga practices.
Improve your mental health with our yoga classes in Cheshire
Ready to improve your mental health and boost your brain power through yoga? We’ve got a range of yoga classes in Cheshire spread across our various studios. Take a look at our timetables and find the class for you.