Yoga: A Tool to a Calm and Improved Mood

Who Can Benefit?

Yoga can be particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with low mood or anxiety. It’s a versatile practice that promotes relaxation and enhances overall wellbeing.

How to Get Started with Yoga

There are many ways to incorporate yoga into your routine, depending on your preferences and schedule:

  • Join a Local Class: Look for yoga classes at your local gym or community center, or explore options at your university if you’re a student.
  • Try Online Yoga Classes: Many platforms offer live or recorded yoga sessions that you can join from the comfort of your home.
  • Use YouTube Tutorials: If you prefer flexibility, YouTube offers a wide variety of free yoga tutorials that you can follow at your own pace, whenever it suits you.

The Science Behind Yoga and Mood

Yoga promotes positive mood changes through the principle of biofeedback, where the brain adjusts its activity based on the body’s movements. By integrating stretching, breathing exercises, relaxation, and posture changes, yoga effectively enhances this biofeedback, contributing to improved mood and reduced anxiety. Research supports yoga as a valuable component in treating depression, with poses that open the chest and involve backbends being particularly effective in boosting positive emotions.

Reference

Korb, A. (2015). The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time. New Harbinger Publications.

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