Yoga has changed my life for the better in so many ways, I feel so much gratitude to Julie who taught the first class I ever attended! I remember feeling so nervous and a little out of place when I first arrived but the difference between how I entered the class and how I left was unbelievable, my first experience of a Svasana left me feeling in this beautiful dreamlike state and for the first time in a while I felt my anxiety noticeably reduce. The more I practiced the more I unlocked the benefits and it was always about so much more than the physical practice and achieving certain postures, it was realising that yoga was a way of life that really did help to support my mental health, here’s how..

1 - Intentional time for Self Care

I’m well aware how difficult it can be for people to intentionally carve out time for themselves, especially if you’re caring for others but whether it’s 10 or 30 minutes I know when I’m rolling out my mat it’s a way to remind myself, my wellbeing matters. That time to realign is so important and continuously showing up for yourself is a really great example to anyone watching! <3 

2 - Regulating the Nervous System through Breath

Yoga practice is intrinsically linked with breathing, it doesn’t just move the body, it slows the breath. Slowing the breath is directly linked to calming the nervous system, just simply lengthening our exhale can move the body out of fight or flight mode and makes space for calm.

3 - Building Mindfulness

In the busy world we live in it’s really easy to become detached from the present moment and to either be mulling over the past or worrying about the future. Yoga continuously encourages you to be present in this moment, the practice invites you to focus on how you’re feeling both in your body and your mind. With consistency you’ll start to notice that mindfulness appearing in other areas of your life. 

4 - Emotional Release through movement

Over time emotions become stored in our body – we can often feel it in our hips and shoulders! By moving this stagnant energy around our body’s yoga can offer a gentle release, it can allow us to feel and work through the emotion rather than suppressing it.

5 - Creating a sense of belonging

This was a beautiful and unexpected bonus for me, I truly never released the sense of community I could feel within a yoga class and I feel so lucky to create this for others! Watching my students become comfortable and relaxed in the space I hold is honestly joyful. Yoga can also offer a real sense of inner unity which is really beneficial if you’re on a journey of self-love.

So there we have it, 5 ways yoga can support mental health! Of course, the list could go on and on but my hope is that you get to experience these incredible benefits along your journey and discover the true improvement yoga can have to your overall wellbeing. Let me know how you’ve discovered yoga supports your mental health <3

Elle x

Curious to start your Yoga journey?