
Benefits of yoga on mental health
During these uncertain times, it’s important to take care of your physical, emotional and mental well-being. If you are at peace, chances are negative influences will not disturb your mind easily. Practicing yoga and mindfulness can help. Benefits of yoga include keeping your mind and body in sync, and helping you stay positive and happy.
Your key to physical and mental well-being
There can be some ambiguity when people describe ‘yoga’, ‘meditation’ and ‘mindfulness. Hence, it’s vital to understand how each one works. Dr Manjeet Singh Arora, senior general physician, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, shares, “Yoga encompasses three main pillars – physical movement, breathing, and mindfulness. Mindfulness is a conscious understanding and reckoning with one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences. While meditation is defined as a state in which one engages in mental exercise. The focus here is concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra). The purpose is to reach a heightened level of awareness.”
Benefits of yoga on mental health
During yoga, your brain releases all sorts of chemicals that not only help you relax, but also lower your stress and anxiety levels. These include Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. Each of these chemicals, function in its own way to help you calm down and feel better. The goal for the mind is to be completely blank. In this state of mind, you are also required to push away any unwanted or disturbing thoughts, and not to get attached to them.”
Thus yoga, meditation and mindfulness are often used as effective techniques to put your mind and body at ease. Each works in different ways but the end goal is to lower stress and anxiety levels.

