I went to a yoga class today which I thoroughly enjoyed (thanks to the entertaining and passionate teacher, in part). I am now ignoring my aching back from over-estimating exactly how far I could twist.
One thing that strikes me at my yoga classes is how self-absorbed they make me- in a beautiful way, not a narcissistic one. All I think about is the cracking of my joints as I flow from one posture to another, the depth of my breathing, and how far I can comfortably sink into a certain pose. It allows my mind to become completely consumed by the immediate physical demands of the class and become unfettered from its daily stresses and worries.
I prioritise going to yoga and the gym, as it is this challenging routine which allows me to transcend my habit of incessant worrying and attain both mental and physical relief. I read a little while ago that the NHS was thinking of introducing yoga and mediation courses and I think they would be invaluable. My experience of therapy group coupled with regular gym attendance has led to my being able to identify crippling emotions and work through them but also take a safe and healthy refuge from them in exercise. Certainly my yoga teacher today likened deep meditation to CBT, as it allows you to commune with your intuition and consider what in your life you may need to change.
The trouble is obviously primarily money: good yoga teachers and appropriate spaces will require both time and financing. It also appears difficult to try and exact change for many mental healthy disorders, such as with the often prohibitively expensive cost of therapists and fiendishly long NHS waiting list, along with the fact one's mental healthy cannot readily be physically assessed.
I would love to see more people being able to enjoy yoga and the stress alleviating effects it brings. Perhaps the government should promote a range of exercise activities not just to combat obesity, but also for its population's mental health.
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