Yoga For Mental Health And Happiness (Backed by Science)

Last updated on January 29th, 2022

Yoga for mental health: truth or myth? Does yoga helps fight stress, anxiety and depression? Please let me know if I was the only one to have these doubts about the power of Yoga. Or do you think the same way?

Well, if I talk about myself I didn’t believe the remedial powers of Yoga until I practised it myself. And do you know how I started practising Yoga? I did this research work, did yoga, and came to know its miraculous benefits on physical and mental health.

Give Time to Yoga for Your Mental Health

Of course, you would say, you don’t have time, find it hard, and so on. There is a natural tendency in all of us, especially in Indians, when we fall ill we never hesitate to visit the doctor.

But when it comes to preparing ourselves in advance to fight diseases, we easily tend to ignore them. Also, we feel no regret wasting our hard-earned money on medicines and treatment.

Isn’t it a healthy and wise step to take advanced care of yourself? Isn’t it the wisest investment to invest your few minutes a day in 5000 years old effective practice ‘yoga’ daily and get rid of the diseases before they make you their victim?

I want to say only one thing and my personal experiences say that you won’t recognize its benefits unless you practice it yourself. Just add it to your daily routine. Start with practising yoga 10 minutes daily along with your daily treadmill exercise.

You know yoga not only helps to improve your physical health, but it also provides numerous mental health benefits. Yoga is not just an exercise, many Yogi’s through ages have proven it has beneficial effects on our mind, body, and soul.

Mental health benefits of yoga _{(yoga for mental health by science)}

Though yoga doesn’t need any scientific certificate about its benefits you will be amazed to hear from scientists how much it is beneficial for your physical and mental health.

Here are what researchers are saying about yoga to improve mental health:

• According to the Mayo Clinic, yoga reduces stress, helps to lower your blood pressure and heart rate.
• A study says yoga alleviates the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Yoga improves your stamina and overall strength (1).
• Yoga is a boon for common diseases. Read the amazing benefits of yoga in the study (2).
• Yoga helps indigestion. Vajra asana is one of the poses of yoga to digest food faster.
• Many other countless astonishing benefits of yoga are in line.

You can read them in this article: Benefits of yoga, poses, guidelines

How yoga benefits your mental health

#1. Stress management

According to this study, the test was conducted with 52 women. After the 12 sessions of hatha yoga practice, it was analyzed there was a significant decrease in their stress levels, depression, and anxiety.

It is clear from this study that yoga works as a stress management tool (3).

#2. Relaxes your mind

Practice it yourself and you would see the astonishing benefits of yoga on your mind. Breathing exercises like Anulom-Vilom relax your mind. You feel the great positive energy around you.

#3. Instant relief from anxiety

Go to the section ‘yoga poses for mental health‘ in this article. You will know how some poses like UTTANASANA is like medicine for depression and anxiety.

#4. Helps in trauma (yoga for mental health)

It can be used as complementary medicine in several types of trauma. Yoga gives support to trauma survivors to deal with their fear and emotional scars.

Yoga is not the complete cure but it gives confidence and boosts well-being which results in good mental health. And a happy mind is more strong and forgets the trauma scars easily.

#5. Keeps you the fresh whole day

You feel positive all day because yoga keeps your physical and mental strength. That’s why you feel fresh after doing yoga.

#6. A sound mind in a sound body

 It’s no secret how yoga provides physical strength to your body by its poses and techniques. Therefore, if your body is strong, your mind also is strong. You feel confident.

#7. Yoga improves the quality of life

Studies found yoga improves the quality of life. It reduces symptoms of fatigue and depression and improves your sleep scores.

#8. Yoga Helps In concentration

Yoga increase your ability to concentrate and memorize things. It has a good effect on your brain cells thus helping in concentration (4).

#9. A way to spirituality

Yoga opens the door to spiritual practice. by mindfulness, you increase your control over the mind and thus your mind becomes ready to practice spirituality.

Yoga for mental health: postures

 Many effective yoga postures help you to reduce anxiety and depression. They lower your stress levels and give a wave of peace to your mind.

For example, Vrksasana increases your concentration power, while Uttanasana is like medicine for depression. It reduces the heaviness of your head and if you remain in this pose for 2 minutes, any type of anxiety will vanish instantly. Read the full post here:

7 best yoga poses to set you free from depression, insomnia, and other mental disorders

Breathing Techniques

There is a set of breathing exercises in yoga. Those exercises are called Pranayam. Some most commonly known Pranayam are Anulom Vilom, Kapal Bhati, and Bhastrika.

These techniques give you instant relief from stress.

Meditation

Meditation is a part of yoga. There are many mudras and samadhis in yoga to practice meditation. You get full serenity after a stage of meditation. Meditation is an amazing technique to control your mind and emotions.

Read the complete beginner’s meditation guide here: Meditation benefits and guide for those who hate meditation

Further reading,

• 30 Quick Stress Buster Activities (Awaken Your Inner Child)
• 40 Positive Things To Say To Yourself Every Day
• Can You Boost Metabolism & Lose Weight Doing Yoga? Let’s find Out

If you liked the article, share it with someone you care about and help them stay healthy and in shape!