It is little wonder that the pandemic has taken a toll on our mental health. Feeling happy and healthy, connecting with one another and fulfilling our goals are all key elements of well-being which have been compromised.
I believe the pandemic will create an autodidactic search for a more spiritual and peaceful way of life and this is where yoga comes into its own. Yoga is something tangible that we can do to improve the way we feel. Those of you who practise regularly know that it makes you feel happier, it gives you a sense of peace. A mindful approach helps us to come to the realisation that life is forever changing, it’s naturally chaotic. Yoga philosophy teaches us to stand back and give ourselves mental space to see things the way they really are. Yogis call this “seeing what is”. We are more than our problems and difficulties and we learn to deal with life without getting taken over by it. Yoga builds resilience, and resilience helps us to maintain a stable mental well-being.
The holistic nature of yoga supports the fact that well-being thrives when our physical, mental and spiritual needs are addressed. Its interconnected nature is fundamental to understanding how it works. In simple terms, improving your posture impacts upon your breathing. Better breathing habits relax and balance your nervous system lowering cortisol levels, and reducing stress has a positive effect on your body’s metabolic systems. Yoga postures (asana) use the physical body as a subtle means of access to your psychological state. Physical and mental health are closely connected and the self-soothing techniques of yoga help us to manage our overall well-being.
If I stop doing yoga for a few days I soon notice that I don’t feel so contented and positive. I miss the blanket of balance and tranquillity that holds me when I commit to a regular practice. Yoga empowers me, it is something I do for myself. It provides a space for self-care and for that reason it improves my situation in life. The deeper I go the more I realise the wonder of yoga isn’t about how good you are at the postures, but how it positively transforms your life.
“Practicing yoga does not eliminate life’s challenges, and neither does it provide us with a convenient trap-door to escape from life’s distractions. Instead, yoga gives us the skills to meet life head-on with dignity and poise.” (Donna Farhi)
Keep practising!
Namaste
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