Kathy on Yoga for Mental Health

Yoga has always been a practice devoted to mental health. In the Yoga sutras considered to be the original yogic text, written by Patanjali, it is defined as yogas citta vtiti nirodha, which literally translates as "yoga causes the cessation of fluctuating consciousness in the mind". Basically, this means yoga keeps the mind focused and frees the elements of worry, doubt and restlessness helping to promote complete mental harmony. Hence, yoga perceives mental imbalance as something triggered by a mind that does not know itself. To rectify this lack of balance it recommends a process of mental development that incorporates all elements of the person. Consequently, the use of yoga in the treatment of mental health issues is not a novel idea, but rather a classical one, which, in the modern world, is infused with a current conception of the mind and body.

Yoga has always been a way to cultivate the mind. The minds capacity to achieve a calm state can be attributed to the holistic approach to the person, addressing all areas that can lead to melancholy and the necessary strategy to counteract each and every aspect. This includes actions, thoughts, physical practice, and the breath, which seems to operate as a link between the body and mind. The approach influences the physiological, psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects of depression. By using this holistic approach yoga honours all aspects of the person by seeing the psychological, spiritualist and scientific view as complementary and even integrative. It is for this reason that yoga can be used as a tool for dealing with depression and anxiety.

In 2001 I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. In my own experience nothing has been more effective than yoga. The practices themselves offer joyful living, promote self-worth, and a sense of unity which I have not found by any other means. It provides me with the capacity to face my woes combining mindfulness, movement, and breath. Sometimes sitting through something painful is simply too much. This is not to say that yoga is perfect or that everyone must do it as part of healing. It requires effort, and a capacity to be open to experience that not everyone is ready for.

Four years ago I was diagnosed again with Bi-Polar Disorder. This was extremely hard for me to understand and deal with. I was extremely depressed, suicidally depressed. Once again I turned to my practice of yoga. It was incredibly painful before I started to work my way forward. For those with deeper levels of depression this may not seem possible, yet, yoga still caters to such people cases. In the first two limbs of the Yamas and Niyamas yoga realises that just getting someone to take care of the body is part of healing. Yoga acknowledges the importance of these rituals along the path to self-understanding and self-love. Its eight limb approach is part of offering something for everyone, and everything for just one.

I believe in the benefits of yoga and its profound ability to offer hope and transformation. Please join me for an hour's class where we will work specifically on mental health and self-love and then stay for a chat.

Kathy McLean
Kundalini Yoga Teacher