Yoga and Mental Health: How Yoga Impacts our Neurotransmitters
At the Yoga For Good Foundation, we often mention how great yoga is for our minds and our sense of wellbeing. But what does that actually mean? And what’s the science behind it? Today, on ‘R U OK?’ Day, we’re doing a deep dive into what actually goes on in our brain when we practice yoga and why it has such a positive impact on our mental health.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, and its benefits extend far beyond flexibility and stress relief. One of the most significant benefits aspects of yoga is its impact on our neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are essentially chemical messengers that play a pivotal role in our mental and emotional well-being. Below, we’ve explained how yoga influences these chemical messengers and why this matters for our overall health.
Understanding Neurotransmitters
Before delving into the connection between yoga and neurotransmitters, it’s essential to grasp the role neurotransmitters play in our bodies. These chemical messengers are responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells, facilitating communication in the nervous system. Neurotransmitters influence various functions, including mood, memory, and motor skills. Three particular neurotransmitters are strongly associated with yoga’s effects: serotonin, dopamine, and GABA.
Serotonin: The Bliss Molecule
Serotonin is often referred to as the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter. It’s crucial for regulating mood, emotions, and sleep patterns. Low serotonin levels are linked to depression and anxiety. Yoga practices, such as asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), and meditation, can increase serotonin production. Regular yoga practice has been shown to elevate serotonin levels, promoting feelings of wellbeing, and reducing symptoms of mood disorders.
Dopamine: The Reward and Pleasure Neurotransmitter
Dopamine is responsible for feelings of reward, motivation, and pleasure. It plays a vital role in addiction, as substances like drugs and alcohol can flood the brain with dopamine, leading to dependency. Yoga, on the other hand, provides a healthier way to boost dopamine levels. The physical and mental challenges of yoga postures and meditation stimulate the release of dopamine, creating a natural sense of reward and accomplishment. This can help individuals find joy and satisfaction in their practice and daily lives.
GABA: The Anxiety Reducer
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. Low GABA levels are associated with conditions like anxiety disorders and insomnia. In fact, a study published in the “Journal of Clinical Psychology” in 2020 showed that regular yoga practice improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia symptoms in individuals with insomnia disorder. Yoga, especially practices focused on deep breathing and meditation, has been shown to increase GABA levels. By calming the mind and promoting a sense of inner peace, yoga helps individuals manage stress and anxiety effectively. Another review published in the “Journal of Clinical Psychology” in 2018 analysed multiple studies and concluded that yoga is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The Mind-Body Connection
Yoga’s impact on neurotransmitters is not limited to the chemical level. The mind-body connection that yoga emphasizes plays a significant role in neurotransmitter regulation. When we practice yoga, we engage both our physical bodies and our minds. This holistic approach fosters harmony between our physical and mental states, allowing neurotransmitters to function optimally.
The Stress-Reduction Factor
One of the most evident ways yoga affects neurotransmitters is through its stress-reduction capabilities. Chronic stress can disrupt neurotransmitter balance, leading to mood disorders and other health problems. Yoga’s relaxation techniques, including deep breathing and meditation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which counters the stress response. By reducing stress, yoga helps maintain the delicate balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Yoga is a powerful tool for improving not only our physical health but also our mental and emotional well-being. Its influence on neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, can significantly impact our mood, stress levels, and overall mental health. By practicing yoga regularly, individuals can harness the mind-body connection and promote the healthy regulation of these essential chemical messengers.
In a world where stress and mental health challenges are prevalent, incorporating yoga into our daily routines can be a transformative step towards achieving a more balanced and harmonious life. So, the next time you roll out your yoga mat, remember that you’re not only stretching your body; you’re also nurturing your neurotransmitters and promoting a happier, healthier you.
For more insights into the benefits of yoga, free yoga classes and tips for practicing, stay up to date with our Yoga For Good Foundation blog. And if you haven’t signed up for our monthly community classes, you can register for free here.
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We are passionate about sharing the joy of practising yoga and offering you an opportunity to connect with your true self on a regular basis.
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17th September 2024 - 12:00 to 1:00pm
Sandra Taylor – Transformative Yoga Community Class
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Join Sandra from Be You Yoga for this Spring Yoga Class, designed to de-stress and reset your digestion, metabolism, immunity, and overall health. Spring is the best therapeutic season for a natural and holistic cleanse.
We will begin by gently warming up your joints and proceed with a pranayama designed to calm your system. This will be followed by gentle movements that promote mobility and fluidity in your body, instilling a sense of nurturing and self-love throughout the practice. We will conclude with deep relaxation and a short meditation to integrate your practice on multiple levels: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Sandra is a master of spirituality and blends the practices of yoga in an adventure of self-discovery. She has a series of books on Be You Yoga that deepen the understanding of yourself to cultivate a heightened sense of self-love, with easy-to-follow yoga guide with meditation exercises and inspired quotes.
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9th November 2024 - 11:00am to 12:00pm
Suze Male - Transformative Yoga Community Class
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Join Suze from 42 Yoga for a transformative yoga class focused on balancing the sacral chakra, the centre of creativity and passion. She believes yoga is the key to body, mind wellness and healing. After practicing for many years and teacher training in Bali and India, she is using these skills with children’s and trauma-informed yoga.
Her new book, a yoga-for-kids adventure called Ursula the Roly Poly Unicorn, helps children develop strong self-esteem, through story and yoga as a positive and empowering tool.
In this class with gentle flows, breathwork and mindful practices, we will cultivate energy, release blockages, and ignite the creative spirit, as well as explore the profound connection between body, mind, and creative expression.
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22nd January 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm
Reetu Verma – Transformative Yoga Community Class
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Meeting ID: 859 1833 4994
Passcode: 171949
Join Reetu for an immersive meditation session into the depths of our energy centres. Nourish the systems of your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, ready for the year ahead. Be guided by her inspiring voice to relax into meditation and reconnect with and balance the subtle energies within.
Reetu Verma has 25 years of experience as an academic, teacher and coach, providing support, help and guidance to thousands of people from all walks of life from all over the globe.
During a traumatic near-death experience, she experienced pure light and pure love and embarked on a transformational, personal healing journey. Inspired and totally committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others, helping them on their healing journey to live a healthier, happier life.
She founded Healing, Health and Happiness to expanded her teachings of personal development, into finding life purpose and spiritual growth. Reetu has developed a systematic, practical approach to bring more harmony and a sense of joy into life.
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22nd October 2024 - 12:00 to 1:00pm, Tuesday
Amy Brooks – Trauma Informed Yoga Community Class
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Join Amy for a trauma-informed gentle flow Community Class with a particular focus on noticing internal sensations and making choices.
Amy Brooks is a qualified social worker, mental health clinician and yoga facilitator certified in Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) based in the Shoalhaven, NSW. She has been practicing yoga for over a decade and passionately believes in its healing qualities for the mind and body, making it an effective adjunct therapy for mental health work. Amy completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Om Sweet Om Milton in 2022.
She is offering yoga classes to the community, combining her professional training and lived experience as a source of strength to guide others on their own journey towards recovery.
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