The benefits of Yoga are evolving beyond physical welfare. An increasing number of studies suggest Yoga improves mental health. According to a latest international study, the ancient practice, which includes movement, meditation, and breathing techniques, has been shown to enhance brain function by increasing grey matter, important for mental processes including language, memory, learning, and decision-making.
The study conducted by a UK-based cognitive neuroscientist highlights yoga’s benefits in the part of the brain’s structure and functions responsible for self-reflection and thinking.
The study suggests that the combined postures, breathing, and meditative exercises in yoga may have additional benefits such as reducing anxiety, stress, and depression, and improving overall mental health.
In the country, yoga practitioners and instructors acknowledge that the practice focuses on thoughts and increases self-awareness, resulting in better psychological health.
Yangchen Lhamo has been practising yoga for the last five years. The certified yoga instructor says the practice does help in stress and anxiety management.
“Through mindful movements and deep breathing, yoga slows our cortisol, which is also known as cortisol level or stress hormones. And it helps activate our parasympathetic nervous system and then puts us into a deep relaxation. So, the second thing is about anxiety management. Yoga allows us to be in this present moment. When you are in the present moment, your thoughts are limited, right? So, when your thoughts are limited, that means you are focused on the present moment. So, yoga promotes or improves your emotional management and reduces the anxiety symptoms.”
She added that yoga also helps treat post-traumatic stress disorder by supporting trauma survivors reconnect with their bodies.
Similarly, self-awareness due to yoga also helps in navigating thoughts that might disturb mental peace.
“Asana or in other words postures for the body, breath work or pranayama for the breath and then meditation for the mind, I think if one practices these techniques, one’s ability to gain awareness on these three different levels improves and with that, I think one has it easier to gain mental clarity,” said Yoenten, a yoga instructor.
Yoga practitioners such as 65-year-old Atsushi Kumata, who has been practising yoga for 10 years of his life say he started the journey for mental peace.
“The main reason is the mind, but some part is for health. If I eat a lot of Bhutanese food, in that case, my weight will increase because Bhutanese food is good so I do it for physical health. ”
Other yoga practitioners agree that yoga has indeed improved their mental health.
“I have realized that we need some form of exercise in our life. Yoga does not just give me physical but also mental and spiritual, all combined in just one hour, which is the best form of self-love that I can give myself every day. So that’s why I’m here. I sweat, I smile, I feel good here at Yoga Yangchen at Yoga Studio,” said Bhuwan Kafley.
Yoga, which originated in India, has been gaining popularity for its profound impact on both body and mind.
With growing research supporting its mental health benefits, yoga is set to become a tool for stress relief, emotional balance, and self-discovery.
Singye Dema
Edited by Phub Gyem
