Skip to content

Mental Benefits of Yoga

Nancy MacGregor MA, ATR-BC, LPC, ACS, Clinical Director

An Introduction to Yoga

Yoga first made a huge splash in America in the 1970s. At that time, Eastern mind-and-body practices started making headway in the Western world. However, it’s important to note that yoga has come a long way from what people were doing in the ’70s.

Fast forward to the present day, a growing amount of research supports the mental benefits of yoga. Experts have found that the practice reduces muscle tension, relieves stress and sharpens concentration. The American Psychological Association says that these benefits aid people in overcoming serious mood disorders.

What Makes the Mental Benefits of Yoga Possible?

Simply saying that a yoga therapy program relieves mood disorders, such as depression, is easy. However, why does yoga ease these disorders? One reason is the reduction of stress. Believe it or not, stress is a big trigger for a lot of disorders, not just mood disorders.

However, there are other benefits of yoga for mental health. For one, it’s a form of exercise that increases levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The brain naturally makes this chemical to regulate nerves. People who struggle with depression, anxiety and other disorders typically have low levels of GABA.

Using yoga to raise GABA levels can lessen, if not eliminate, the cause of some disorders. Also, it prevents the need for medications that boost the production of GABA. For this reason, treatment centers recognize the benefits of yoga for mental health.

Why Do Mental Health Treatment Centers Offer Yoga?

For those who have never practiced yoga, it can be hard to understand how the therapy can help with mental health. However, studies show that yoga therapy can help improve mental health both during and after treatment. Yoga can help individuals work through triggers or stressors of their mental health symptoms in an effective and healthy manner. It can help individuals focus on their breath, calm their minds, and think more clearly. A yoga therapy program can help teach and strengthen these practices to help individuals after they complete their mental health treatment.

Find Out How We Can Help

Do you need a yoga therapy program in South Jersey that also offers traditional mental health treatment? If so, it’s time to call Harmony Bay Wellness. We offer both holistic and traditional programs. Beyond yoga, a few of the services that we offer include:

Take your mental health treatment program to the next level by harnessing the mental benefits of yoga.  Find out today how we can help by dialing [Direct].

Treatment with Harmony Bay

Harmony Bay is an outpatient behavioral health service that offers primary mental health treatment for a variety of mental health disorders. Our mission is to make mental health care convenient and affordable while providing an unmatched experience to our clients. contact us today by calling 855.765.6399.