Hannah Grace
Just like everyone else, you might be too busy to look after your health. With the many things we worry about in life, most of us think vitamins and medicine are enough to stay healthy. We may not even have time for complete rest and moderate exercise. However, there are ways to take care of yourself despite how full your hands are. Yoga is one of them. It helps improve and maintain overall health and well-being. Here are five signs you might need yoga for your mental health:
You’re Stressed
Do you find yourself stressed out almost everyday? Work, family, bills, and a lot of other concerns can take a toll on you. If you’re not yet aware, your body may tell you. Sometimes, having a hard time with simple tasks and sudden pains indicate that your stress levels are high.
You Can’t Focus
Constant brain fog is not normal. If it takes you great effort to focus or you always zone out in important situations, that’s a big sign. Inability to concentrate even without much lack of sleep, food, or water is something you shouldn’t ignore.
You Lack Motivation
When you’re not in your best shape, losing your sense of purpose happens easily. You can’t see what you can be grateful for, and you can’t have hope for anything at all. You can forget about possibilities. Getting out of bed in the morning may feel like a chore to you.
You Can’t Relax
Maybe the last time you actually rested well was ages ago. Having a massage and going on a vacation are great for you too, but regular relaxation is essential. Being unable to unwind, even after you go home (because your mind is still busy), is another huge sign.
You Can’t Control Your Emotions
Not managing to get a hold of your emotions means you’re in bad need of peace. For instance, crying at the slightest frustration or exploding in social situations is a tell-tale sign. Losing control over your emotions also further worsens your mental health.
What is Yoga?
Originating in ancient India, yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines. It includes breath control, simple meditation, and specific bodily postures widely practiced for health and relaxation.
Types
There are many different kinds of yoga. Here are a few common ones:
- Ashtanga Yoga – a modern form of classical Indian yoga that helps improve mood and encourage a positive outlook in life.
- Hatha Yoga – involves 45 to 90 minutes of breathing, yoga poses, and meditation; helps with anxiety and helps regulate emotions.
- Hot Yoga – done under hot and humid conditions; helps with negative emotions and emotional eating.
- Iyengar Yoga – focuses on the detail, precision, and alignment of yoga postures; good for stress and anxiety.
- Kundalini Yoga – uses sound, mantra chants, energy healing, exercises, and meditation to release trauma from the body; helps with insomnia, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), anxiety, chronic fatigue, etc.
- Power Yoga – a faster, more dynamic, and more intense form of yoga. It helps calm and center the nervous system and sharpen attention and concentration.
- Restorative Yoga – slows down and opens your body through passive stretching (usually involves 5 or 6 poses); helps boost mental health.
- Vinyasa Yoga – focuses on one pose at a time, with each movement synchronized to a breath. It helps lower stress and anxiety levels, and may help with addiction.
In choosing a yoga type, you have to consider your overall health condition and personal needs.
Both physical and mental, there are many benefits to yoga. Practicing yoga is great for your mind, and it also improves the quality of your life.
Can you relate? Share your thoughts below. We’d love to hear them!
