Now that Yoga Fit is in full-effect at CrossFit 818, many of my clients are really seeing the benefits physically that yoga has to offer. They are feeling great in their normal workouts and even better after their hour long yoga session!
The physical benefits are phenominal, but there are many tremendous benefits that yoga has on your mind as well! Yoga can help relieve stress, sleep better, and have a happier outlook on your life overall!
It is national Yoga month and I thought this would be a great way to share with my readers ….
The article is from “All in Your Mind” by Linda Wasmer Andrews
Fighting Depression and PTSD
Yoga may help rebalance the autonomic nervous system, according to a recent article in Medical Hypotheses. The autonomic nervous system is part of the nervous system that controls involuntary body functions, such as breathing, circulation, and digestion. It’s comprised of two opposing sets of nerves: sympathetic and parasympathetic. When you’re stressed, the sympathetic branch is revved up, and the parasympathetic branch is tamped down.
Low parasympathetic activity has also been linked to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The article authors—led by psychiatry professor Chris Streeter, MD, at Boson University—argue that one way yoga helps fight these disorders is by increasing parasympathetic activity.
How to Recognize the Symptoms of Depression
Boosting a Key Brain Chemical
GABA is a brain chemical that helps regulate nerve activity. Low GABA levels are another hallmark of depression, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders. In fact, drugs for treating these disorders may work partly by increasing GABA activity. It turns out that yoga may do much the same thing.
In an earlier study led by Streeter, healthy volunteers either practiced yoga or walked three times a week for 12 weeks. Yoga led to greater improvements in mood and anxiety. And those improvements were associated with increased GABA levels in the yoga group.
Reaching Across the Age Span
Yoga seems to have mental health benefits for people of all ages:
- A recent study from Harvard Medical School compared a yoga class to a regular PE class for high school students. During the 10 weeks of the study, the mood of those in the yoga group brightened. In contrast, the mood of the PE students got worse. Many mental health problems first crop up during the teen years, so a more upbeat mood may be especially helpful then.
- A small study from the University of Michigan looked at the pluses of prenatal yoga for pregnant women. All the participants were considered at risk due to elevated scores on a depression screening test. After 10 weeks of yoga, their depression symptoms were reduced—especially encouraging in light of the fact that many women worry about taking antidepressants during pregnancy. The women also reported feeling more emotionally attached to their babies in the womb, a wonderful side benefit of a more positive mood.
- UCLA researchers studied a particular form of yoga meditation, called Kirtan Kriya, in family caregivers who were looking after someone with dementia. The caregivers, who ranged in age from 45 to 91, had lower levels of depression symptoms after eight weeks of practicing yoga meditation for 12 minutes a day, compared to relaxing with music. They also showed improvements in overall mental function and attention.
Fit Ones now you know the wonderful physical and mental benefits of yoga, so make sure to check out your local studio, or attend my class every sunday at CrossFit 818.
Fit Chic