The ancient science of yoga unites poses with breathing and concentration to build strength, awareness and harmony between mind and body. Yoga provides many obvious physical benefits – flexibility, stamina, circulatory health, to name a few – and now more than ever, we realise its important role in our mental wellness too. Self-care is a hot topic, thankfully, as with life continuing to pick up speed all around us – we’ve got to slow down and look inward, at our own mental health. Yoga helps our mental health by: Relieving anxiety Lowering depression Promoting better sleep Fighting fatigue Decreasing stress Improving focus Increasing tolerance Relieving anxiety Lowering depression Promoting better sleep Fighting fatigue Decreasing stress Improving focus Increasing tolerance Relieving anxiety Lowering depression Promoting better sleep Fighting fatigue Decreasing stress Improving focus Increasing tolerance Yoga and meditation promote relaxation – the opposite of anxiety, stress and depression. They build our ability to stay centred, which is vital for stress management. By pausing to breathe, meditate or stretch, the mind is directed away from the trigger and a biological reaction of calming begins. Thank you so much for this, it saved my day! Started my day drowning in social anxiety, now I feel like I’m above surface again and more grounded. Suzanna Rice These simple practices amplify awareness of what’s happening in our body, making it possible to detect changes and early signs of mental health issues. How? One way is by teaching us to be present, rather than worrying about what’s occured in the past or what may happen in the future. And… Exercise naturally increases the flow of serotonin, ‘the happy hormone’. So moving and relaxing our body calms the mind, and enhancing our mental health positively affects our physical health. When the world feels out of balance, unequal or low, yoga can help us maintain our internal equilibrium and elevate our experience of daily life. And it’s available to us anywhere, any time.