I know, I know you never saw this one coming from a trained yoga teacher. But let me just say, I was a fan of yoga before I ever stepped into a yoga studio. That is because I knew all the research that was out there about how anxiety is helpful in decreasing stress and anxiety. It is something we see come up again and again in the research. Plus, this made sense to me, all the yoga teachers I had ever met seemed very calm and relaxed.
Yoga is a Natural Remedy for Anxiety
I have a number of theories about why yoga is helpful with stress and anxiety. One of the theories has to do with breath. Yoga has a lot of focus on breath. In yoga how do we get through a hard pose? We use the breath. How do we come back to our mat when our mind starts to wander? We use our breath. How do we often know how long to hold a pose? We count our breath.
Yoga as a form of Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
Another theory I have about why yoga is helpful with anxiety has to do with Mindfulness. Weather we know it or not when we practice yoga, we practice Mindfulness. In yoga we are constantly practicing being fully on our mat, in mind and body. As our mind wanders we remind ourselves where we are in that moment, on our mat. I feel like I have trained my brain on this so well that every time I step on my mat a lot of the stress and worries starts to fade away even before I start moving.
Yoga for Everyone
Have a physical injury or decreased mobility? This does not exclude you from yoga being an option for you. There are so many yoga varieties out there! Sure there is Power Yoga, and Vinyassa but there is also Slow Flow, Gentle, Restorative and even Chair Yoga. There is something out there for everyone no matter the limitations. Matthew Sanford is a famous yoga teacher who happens to also be a paraplegic.
Yoga for Mental Health and General Well-being
Another reason for doing yoga? Research shows it is linked with increased levels of well being. In the research study they had participants do various types of exercises and found that yoga participants reported increased sense of well being. Even when the science wasn’t showing participants being healthier from yoga, the participants felt healthier.
Charlotte Therapist and Yoga Teacher
Theresa Leskowat LCMHC is a trained yoga teacher and mental health therapist in Charlotte, NC. Theresa is passionate about helping clients find natural ways of managing anxiety. Theresa provides cognitive behavioral therapy as a natural remedy for anxiety. Theresa offers anxiety therapy, depression treatment, therapy for trauma, divorce counseling, and counseling for stress management and managing perfectionism.