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Natural Awakenings Sarasota / Manatee / Charlotte

Yoga Therapy Is Effective for Mental Health

Mar 01, 2020 11:41AM ● By Janet Lindsay

According to the Global Burden of Disease report, from 1990 to 2017, anxiety disorder doubled from 20% to over 40% in the U.S. The World Health Organization notes that unrecognized mental disorders account for more disabilities than all other illnesses, but few people recognize and seek help for mental health until symptoms are chronic and severe.   

Lifetime rates for mental illness in the U.S. are at 50%—one in four people have one or more episodes, and incidences increase with age. Chronic mental stress is now correlated to physical disease breakdown, as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s risk. Much is discussed about depression, but twice as many people live with the stress of untreated anxiety disorder. 

This data indicates that mental disorders are so common that they need to become an essential focus of global health. Medications and psychotherapy are the prevailing treatments. However, the integrated holistic treatment of yoga therapy for balancing the mind and body, an ancient prescription for centuries, has been found effective by numerous studies in combination with psychiatric treatments—or for milder cases, alone.      

How can yoga therapy help the more than 970 million people globally with clinical anxiety disorder, and the other 792 million living mental disorders such as depression, bipolar, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, substance abuse or schizophrenia? The National Institute of Health reports that yoga therapy can help those with disordered psychological reactions in five specific ways: 

 

  • Induces deep rest and a calming effect on stress reflexes in the body and mind. 

  • Increases awareness of the physical symptoms when mental imbalance begins. 

  • Bolsters the attention span and ability to concentrate, so function and control improves. 

  • Enhances acceptance and adaptability in order to choose healthier lifestyle habits. 

  • Provides the skills to develop a sense of safety and stability, not dependent on others or favorable events. 

  

Only 10 states in the U.S. require healthcare professionals to have mental health training. It’s time to find a yoga therapist and start the journey to balance. Empowered 2 Wellness Yoga Therapy of Sarasota provides free consultations by appointment and private sessions.  

 

Location: 1219 East Ave., Ste. 104, Sarasota. For more information, call 941-316-6893.    

 

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