YOGA IS A MINDSET, AS WELL AS BODY AND SOUL WORK!

The tradition of Yoga has been with us for 1,000s of years. In Western culture, it has taken some time but thankfully Yoga is now considered a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy that can be used in addition to or instead of conventional treatments.

I want to briefly outline how Yoga can in fact be considered a complete lifestyle. It is a practice that works on our body, mind and soul. It’s all inclusive and most useful when practiced consistently.

To start, I thought some science-backed research-led information might appeal to those who enjoy proof of its worth. So why is Yoga a proven holistic stress management technique?

It promotes relaxation and stimulates “feel good” brain activity by releasing endorphins (natural painkillers) and GABA (gamma- aminobutyric acid). Simply put, it assists the body in regulating its stress response through nervous system interaction and feedback to brain.

Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia are amongst the most common reasons for individuals to seek treatment with complementary therapies such as Yoga. Yoga encourages us to slow the breath and focus on the present, shifting the balance from the sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight response) to the parasympathetic system (rest and relax). The parasympathetic is calming and restorative; it lowers respiratory and heart rate, decreases blood pressure, lowers cortisol levels, and increases blood flow to the intestines and vital organs.

One of the main goals of Yoga is to come into the present moment, which encourages a sense of well-being, self-awareness, improved self-confidence, attentiveness to the body, and lowered irritability. This is due to the interoceptive quality of the practice - meaning we turn inwards, we listen to the breath, we are guided by the breath to the posture. When we tune in to our body and breath, the energy naturally becomes balanced which is vital to the function of the immune system. The processes involved lead to the posterior hypothalamus being inhibited which lowers the stimuli to the sympathetic nervous system. This optimises the body's responses to stressful stimuli and brings about a sense of safety and calm in one’s environment.

A one-hour Yoga practice (which includes breathwork, movement and relaxation) can offer the practitioner the opportunity to manage high emotional stress, such as, fear, aggression, and anger (sometimes we don’t even realise we are holding this stress). As humans we are adept at holding emotion within our bodies until it feels safe to release. In turn, we stimulate the rewarding pleasure centers in the median forebrain and set off a positive chemical reaction that is carried through the neural pathways, leading to a state of calm and pleasure. This chain reaction results in decrease in anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure.

Consistent Yoga practice can help those suffering with depression and can lead to significant increase in serotonin levels aligned with a decrease in the levels of monamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters and cortisol.

Many psychologists support the management of depressive disorders with Yoga in its complementary/therapeutic form, along with other therapies/interventions, as there can be adverse effects of medication. Please read Gabor Mate “The Myth of Normal” and Bessel Von Der Kolk “The Body Holds the Score” both very accessible works in this field. There are a number of studies that demonstrate the potential beneficial effects of Yoga interventions on depression, stress, and anxiety.

An improved flexibility and a calm, happy state is one of the first and most obvious benefits of Yoga. Probably the reason for most coming back for more.

With continued practice, practitioners find a more refined and lean muscle tone, improved elasticity in connective tissues and fascia, and better range of motion in joints. It is proven that Yoga helps to build muscle mass and/or maintain muscle strength, which can help as we age in protecting against conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and back related issues.

During a Yoga session, the joints are taken through their full range of motion, squeezing and soaking areas of fascia and cartilage that are underused or neglected in daily life. This brings a fresh supply of blood, oxygenating, and delivering nutrients, which can help towards prevention of certain conditions that develop as we age - like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain and other chronic conditions. Our bodies were made for movement. When we restrict or limit our movement, our body responds by making that area obsolete, so it reduces blood flow, nutrients to that area, in favour of those other areas you are actually using. Dare I say it, it’s a matter of “Use it or Lose it”.

If you haven’t tried Yoga and feel that it may be something for you, don’t hesitate regardless of age or ability. In my opinion, Yoga is a mindset as well as bodywork and soulwork. When we explore the movement of the body, we are also releasing trapped emotions, opening new opportunities for our neural pathways to consider. It’s quite a lot to take on board, as in Western culture we sometimes dont look beyond the physical attributes of yoga. The real yoga happens at the end of movement, as we lay on the mat (Savasana), when we find a space within where there is NO separation of body, mind and soul.

My invitation is, come and try it. This essay is merely an introduction, and there is so much more that can be shared. There is nothing to lose, and everything to be gained.

Thank you for reading my words.

Claire Booth