Yoga is a practice that has been around for centuries, in fact, it was developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilisation in Northern India over 5,000 years ago! Today, it remains a popular practice for many people around the world spanning across a multitude of cultures. Now that we’re in the midst of a pandemic that has forced us indoors, there’s no better time to either start yoga or get back into it. We have all the time we need, and plus, recent studies conducted by the University of South Australia have shown that movement-based yoga can have a positive effect on our mental health.
The research examined 19 studies across six countries with a total of 1080 participants and showed that yoga had a positive impact on mental illnesses such as “anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and major depression.”
In general, there’s nothing more stress-relieving than exercising, whether it be through cardio or weight training. But since gyms have been closed and team sports temporarily banned, indoor yoga should be the go-to form of exercise.
It’s been reported that globally, 450 million people suffer from mental health issues with one in four people likely to be affected by a mental health condition at one point in their lives (WHO). In Australia alone, almost half of adults will experience mental health issues. Now more than ever, it is important that we stay both physically and mentally sharp or risk harming our mental wellbeing.
To get started with yoga, here are five basic movements:
#1 Mountain Pose
#2 Tree Pose
#3 Downward Facing Dog Pose
#4 Triangle Pose
#5 Child’s Pose
All video tutorials courtesy of Yoga With Adriene.
