How Yoga Can Help Combat Anxiety and Depression
Striking a pose goes way beyond the body. Here’s how yoga can help combat anxiety and depression:
Life is full of dynamic pressures.
Work, social expectations, daily commutes and finances – even fun activities, like hobbies and volunteer work – play large roles in how we allocate our time resources and mental energy.
Prioritizing room in your busy schedule for physical activity, ensuring a healthy diet and adequate sleep is difficult enough – but factoring in checks for your mental health?
Really, who has the time?
With the added pressures and demands of upcoming holidays with their mismatched routines and hectic traveling schedules, taking a break may seem like not only an unattainable goal, but some sort of cruel joke.
How is Stress Hurting Our Bodies?
The effect of mental strain on the human body is real, and according to The American Psychological Association, chronic stress in the United States is on the rise – with nearly four in 10 people reporting that they feel the strain every day.
Repercussions of this stress can manifest in several ways. The first and most seemingly innocuous symptoms come in the form of headaches, muscle tension and disrupted sleep.
But if left unchecked, these symptoms can bubble to the surface of your life in behavioral issues such as overeating, substance abuse, and “angry outbursts.†And the setbacks your personal health goals bear much more weight as a result.
How Can Yoga Help?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “a number of studies have shown that yoga may help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being.†The practice’s focus on breathing and meditation not only relaxes the body, but also the spirit and overall sense of wellness.
And those battling depression, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can benefit from the “tamed stress response†that comes with doing yoga regularly according to a recent study from Harvard Medical School.
This can help regulate stress, making it easier for yogis and beginners alike to combat its tell-tale tension symptoms before they even begin.
Earn Focus. Save Time.
All-in-all, adding yoga to your workout routine is scientifically proven to help alleviate stress and help you focus on what truly matters in your life. Grab control of your stress and take back your time and energy. Take a break, and thank us later.
Comments are closed.