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Yoga For Mental Health? YES!

added on: July 7, 2017

Most of our Georgetown dental office patients are aware that both Dr. and Mrs. Hennington are professional yoga instructors. Xenia is actually a Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainer,  teaching Kundalini yoga classes at Yoga Yoga in Austin, and Dr. David volunteers his time teaching yoga to Safe Alliance employees. Both understand the physical and spiritual benefits of yoga, from physical flexibility to meditation and spiritual growth. But did you know that there are specific mental health benefits from practicing yoga?

You may be thinking to yourself, how could laying on a mat in a weird pose help my mind? It all comes down to way your body physically reacts to the specific body postures and alignments of yoga. As you pose and breathe deeply, your body lowers your brain’s response to threat and stress, turning OFF adrenaline and causing sodium to leave your body’s cells. This immediately relaxes your brain, your heart, and your muscles, as well as oxygenating your blood to reduce your heart rate. Studies by the American Psychological Association have discovered that relaxing through yoga can reduce depression, symptoms of schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. One study was performed on adult caregivers taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s and dementia. They found that performing yoga for 12 minutes a day over an 8 week period reduced their stress and increased levels of life satisfaction.

Think about how you feel during a relaxing weekend or after a really great night of sleep. That state of calm and balance that makes you just sit back and smile? Those same biological reactions can be achieved through the relaxation of gentle yoga poses.

The staff at Trade Winds Dental knows that yoga has a variety of benefits, from elongating muscles to helping spinal nerves, to even aiding in digestion. But your Georgetown dentist also wants you to know that a sun salutation can do more than strengthen your body… it can also help to strengthen your mind.

If you’re curious about yoga and it’s benefits, please feel free to ask questions during your next dental appointment. And until then….. Namaste… Sat Nam.


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