Do Yoga and Mental Health Correlate

Do Yoga and Mental Health Correlate

Have you ever thought performing a physical act such as yoga can drastically improve your mental health? There are many positive correlations between yoga and mental health. Unfortunately, too many people know the struggle of having issues with mental health. It is a battle that can be incredibly difficult to endure, let alone overcome.

Medication is a path many choose to take and have found success with, in addition to speaking with mental health counseling professionals. With that being said, it is important to know that medication is not the only path to take. Studies are showing promising results linking yoga with an improvement in mental health.

Yoga’s Impact on Depression

There have been promising studies finding yoga to be helpful in decreasing depression systems among the participants. These studies show that not only was yoga found to be helpful in people experiencing depression symptoms, but there was also belief yoga was helpful in treatment-resistant depression.

Anger

In a 2012 study, researchers found yoga to be helpful to people in controlling anger. In the study, one group participated in yoga and another participated in physical education. They found the group who practiced yoga throughout the study had a better ability to control their anger than the other group at the conclusion of the study.

Anger is something many people struggle with. If you find yourself struggling, always remember there are qualified professionals that would love to help.

Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural immune response in the body. Chronic inflammation is what we want to avoid. Heart Disease and Cancer thrive in a pro-inflammatory environment, so keeping inflammation in check is of vital importance. It’s literally life or death.

Yes, a cancer diagnosis can be very painful to even think about. Even with all the innovation in medicine and treatments for the most aggressive cancers (like gamma knife radiosurgery for brain tumors), it can completely change the course of someone’s life. While some people may choose to go the traditional route with treatments like chemotherapy and radiation at public healthcare centers, others may explore private cancer treatment providers. This is because private cancer clinics can provide a wide range of services and therapies, from state-of-the-art medical facilities to alternative treatments like acupuncture and massage therapy. Many of these private cancer treatment providers tend to offer personalized treatment plans that are tailored to the specific needs of each patient, providing a more comprehensive and holistic approach to care that might not be readily available through traditional healthcare systems. The same goes for heart-related conditions, which can be chronic in nature.

That being said, yoga is an excellent practice to prevent many of the problems associated with our health – even the ones we think are the scariest (like cancer)! The benefits of yoga can be felt by all; young and old, rich or poor, healthy or ill. For those suffering from health issues, a regular yoga practice may help with improving the quality of life by supporting both physical and mental wellness.

A 2015 study divided its subjects into two groups.

One group practiced yoga regularly and the other didn’t. Both groups were put through strenuous workouts. The group who practiced yoga were shown to have lower inflammatory markers than the group who abstained from yoga.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response in the body. It helps us stay out of negative and potentially dangerous situations. Unfortunately, some people have a difficult time getting out of the fight or flight state and getting back into a rested state. Yoga has been shown to help this problem.

Studies have linked yoga to not only helping people suffering from general anxiety, but also helping those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Yoga makes a point to emphasize mindfulness and being in the moment.

The focus on being present is thought to help those who suffer from anxiety. The focus on breathing helps people to stay in the moment. People who struggle with anxiety tend to have trouble keeping proper breathing patterns in stressful moments. Yoga helps with this by focusing on the power of proper breathing. However, if symptoms like shortness of breath or painful breathing persist, you may need to consult a lung doctor and get pulmonary function tests at Gwinnett Lung or a nearby pulmonary healthcare clinic. The tests can determine if there is a lung infection or a lung disease. That way, the doctor can then prescribe the needful treatments and medication to cure the problem.

Improves Mobility and Stability

As time passes many people notice they aren’t as flexible as they once were. Many also have noticed that their balance isn’t what it used to be. Having healthy, mobile joints and the ability to maintain your balance are very important. Having equal mobility and stability in your joints will lead to a much better quality of life.

Imagine how difficult it would be to enjoy time with your kids or grandchildren if you felt tightness in your joints or were having trouble maintaining your balance, so much so that you only find comfort on a hospital bed because of the ease it offers. To avoid ending up in such a situation try including yoga in your lifestyle. In case you are already facing some amount of mobility issues, even in that case, some yoga in conjunction with the correct mobility aids (learn how to pick the right mobility aid here) could help improve your mobility and stability.

Yoga and Mental Health

Yoga is a fantastic way to improve your mental health and it truly is for everyone, regardless of background. Get out of your comfort zone and reap the benefits of this timeless practice.

Yoga and mental health are connected, but yoga is not the only way to take care of yourself. Contact a professional at Braden Counseling Center in Dekalb to make sure you are in the best place mentally you can be. You owe it to yourself to be as happy as you can possibly be.