“Yoga that’s about more than just physical movement”
Tell me more about yoga…
The practice of yoga dates about over 2000 years; its focus is on the unification of mind and body. Movement has been medicine for me.
Gentle, rhythmic movement has been shown to be of benefit to long-term anxiety management. It can help us connect to our bodies and build capacity for our nervous system.
Anxiety is a very physical condition, it teaches us to be fearful of our bodies, fearful of every sensation that shows up, yoga has the power to do the oppositive. Yoga builds trust in ourselves, in our bodies, it teaches us radical acceptance, mindful witnessing, and shows us that we can tolerate the most challenging emotions, including anxiety. You can read more about the research behind this here.
And it's not just about the body; research has shown that yoga can change the make-up of your brain. Brain studies have found that yoga appears to be linked to anatomical changes in the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, frontal cortex, and insula (see the research here). All of these brain regions have an important role in the anxiety cycle (read more here).
Yoga, for me, is not just about time on the mat, it’s a daily practice; a re-commitment to self and my values. It supports my long-term management of anxiety, but I’m not here to say it’s the sole answer to anxiety; it’s not. But it has been an essential part of my recovery, and when I go a week without it, I feel it. My wellbeing drops, my critical voice gets louder, and I find myself more on edge than I’d like to be.
Yoga & Me
However, there have always been times where my anxiety has been so bad, rumination so heavy, body sensations so loud that I’ve had to leave yoga classes. Choosing the type of movement, whether it’s right for you, and where/when to do it, is a personal decision, which is why I offer a several yoga offerings…
