Feeling moody? Dr Katie says Yoga can help
- Dr Katie Pullinger
- Mar 15, 2015
- 2 min read
Day after day...
It was in 2005 while working as a GP that I began to realise how many people have problems with their moods. Day after day people described being worried, over-emotional, unable to switch off, low in confidence, mentally exhausted. Day after day I found myself thinking: yoga could help that person.
Do you take better care of your car than your own mind?
We all know that cars need regular servicing and woollens careful washing. We know what foods help our bodies stay healthy. But how many of us know how to properly care for our mental and emotional health, how to manage our moods? Yoga is a system which does just that.
Yes, life is stressful!
Stress is inevitable in life: annoying noises, traffic jams, relationship upheavals. Plus, we are bombarded with media designed to induce excitement and craving – states our nervous systems register as forms of stress. This stress is stored in our bodies – shoulders tense, tummies tighten, brows knit. Instead of alert, calm and positive, we look – and feel – dull and anxious.
Yoga is your friend
Yoga allows us to become aware of and then release the physical signs of mental tension. When we release this tension from our bodies, our minds are naturally eased.
Done with awareness, simple postures like the heavenly stretch pose, gentle spinal twists and shoulder rotations are excellent for releasing deep seated physical, mental and emotional tension.
When the body-awareness developed by the postures extends from class into daily life, the benefits increase. Posture often improves, creating a knock-on effect in self confidence.
Breathe Well, Live Well
How you breathe is also important for mental wellbeing. I'll tell you more about that next time.
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