he physical benefits of executing a regular Yoga routine have been well-documented throughout popular culture, but what about its impact on mental health? Some psychotherapists claim yoga is a key to psychological and emotional well-being, doing wonders for self-confidence, improving relationships, and ultimately helping you unlock the best version of yourself.
The physical benefits of executing a regular Yoga routine have been well-documented throughout popular culture, but what about its impact on mental health?
Some psychotherapists claim yoga is a key to psychological and emotional well-being, doing wonders for self-confidence, improving relationships, and ultimately helping you unlock the best version of yourself.
But how exactly? If you’ve ever regularly practiced yoga you’ll appreciate the feel-good factor you experience. It is a psychological discipline that influences the mind, body, and soul.
Here are four ways Yoga can benefit your mental health and well-being:
Building Your Sense of Self
Yoga helps you cultivate a non-judgmental relationship with yourself, so you can be more understanding and less critical. This is achieved as you get to know yourself better as you build self-trust and discipline.
The more you practice yoga, the better lifestyle choices you’ll make, with your unconscious mind guiding you to eating healthier and exercising more. With a sense of self-worth, you’ll be encouraged to make positive decisions, as you’ll value yourself more highly than ever before.
Establishing a positive relationship with yourself is everything. It will help you grow confidence and become rooted in your sense of self, developing a balanced, healthy ego where you feel as if you have nothing to lose or hide. With a strong sense of willpower and courage, you’ll accomplish more in life without being afraid of difficult conversations.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System
Yoga shifts you from your sympathetic nervous system into your parasympathetic nervous system. This transition enables you to rest-and-digest rather than acting on fight-or-flight responses.
You’ll enter a state of relaxation conducive to better mental health, rather than experiencing anxiety and feeling on edge in social situations. Deep breathing will bring you out of your fight-or-flight response, calming your nervous system down until you achieve a relaxed state.
Improves Relationships
When you find peace from within, this will translate to your relationships. A sense of peacefulness and relaxation will help you keep a calm, level head, and be more empathetic.
Your friends and family will notice a difference, with the way you interact, your tolerance levels, and your calmness. Your partner will also, as you view them through the same lens you do yourself.
In other words, you’ll show compassion and unconditional love. You’ll be less reactive to negative stimuli, understanding that snapping at your partner isn’t the right decision. Yoga enables you to take a step back and assess situations with a level head.
Become More Aware of Your Shadow Properties
Having practiced yoga, you’ll recognize qualities in yourself you didn’t realize existed. Uncovering your hidden strengths will help you become more mindful and present at the moment.
Shadow properties derive from work by Carl Jung, who addressed the areas within our body where we hold the most tension. These spots are generally pressure points where we focus on considerable psychological and emotional energy.
Various Yoga stretches help us relieve tension and stiffness from target areas, which causes an emotional release, whether we’re conscious of it or not. By being open to shifting your energy, you’ll be open to addressing your weaknesses.
Apart from these benefits, there are several other scientifically-proven benefits of Yoga that you can find here.
