Yoga Helps Alleviate Depression
I have students attend my yoga classes for various reasons. Some students need gentle exercise for their joints and chronic health issues, others need to work on stretching and slowing down with our fast pace schedules. There are also those students who attend my classes because they are going through a tough emotional situation or dealing with depression. I have never had a student leave a class and tell me they feel worse than before the class began. Students always comment how much better they feel, whether it is the physical benefits or the overall sense of well-being after an hour of slow breathing and relaxing tension and stress in the body.
There is exciting news for those who enjoy a weekly yoga practice. With recent studies presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, studies showed that yoga was very beneficial in reducing some of the symptoms of depression. Here is one more reason to attend a yoga class, and invite a friend or family member dealing with depression for a healthy way to take care of our mental health.