YOGA AND AYURVEDA THERAPY CAN HELP RESOLVE THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS– PART 3 OF 4

1. HOW AYURVEDA AND YOGA THERAPY CAN HELP RESOLVE THE GROWING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS– PART 3 OF 4

3. Due to the complexities of treating mental health disorders, it is important to treat mental health issues holistically. Therefore, a structured, holistic approach is advised. The integration of complementary therapies such as Ayurveda and Yoga treatment can be extremely beneficial. Ayurveda and Yoga have traditionally used therapies to maintain good mental health. • In today’s western world, Mindfulness has come to the fore in the treatment of improving our mental health; Ayurveda and Yoga have focused on this aspect in the treatment of mood disorders for thousands of years. Typical therapies include: Visualisation

4. Visualisation technique has been shown to improve mood disorders. Positive imagery is the cornerstone visualisation technique which is known to lessen anxiety. For thousands of years, yogis have used guided imagery simultaneously in their asana practice to help remove samskaras. Today we hear our Yoga instructors guide their students through their asanas using imagery. • Typical examples include ‘imagine the space between the joints becoming lubricated’ as the student does a kneeling pose (vajarasana) or, ‘imagine your calves stretching loosely and breathe out the tension held within’. • While scientifically there is no evidence to validate this as a biological effect, it can be argued that we cannot scientifcally measure the subtle effects and interactions between the various physiological systems. In today’s world, visualisation is a conventional technique utilised by many elite athletes and a standard tool in sports psychology. It is now common practice among psychologists and other healthcare professionals.

6. Breathing • Prananyama has been prescribed by Ayurveda and Yoga therapist for thousands of years for the maintenance of good mental health. Pranayama is more than a simple breathing exercise. It is a powerful yogic technique used to regulate the flow of energy or ‘prana’ in the body to a higher frequency. Traditional yoga practice focuses on four critical aspects of breathing: • 1. Puraka or inhalation • 2. Rechaka or exhalation • 3. Antharkumbhaka or Internal Breath Retention and • 4. Bahirkumbhaka or External Breath Retention • We now understand that the physiology of breathing is related to the neurobiology of breathing. For example, worry is characterised by decreased respiratory stability and flexibility.

7. Meditation • The practice of Meditation has been around in Vedic tradition for thousands of years. It is a common modality that is prescribed in Ayurveda and Yoga therapy. • Meditation is described in the ancient Vedic texts as an exercise of consciousness. This process of meditation goes beyond the mind to the deepest level of the inner Self which involves a deep inner listening with an open mind and heart. Such thinking requires full concentration. • A recent Complementary and Alternative Medicine study in Scientific Reports published by Cotier et al. in 2017 showed support for short-term meditation might be useful in helping the elderly that suffer from both cognitive and neural decline. • Many scientists conversely argue that meditation is an esoteric science and it does not have a valid therapeutic effect. However, until the scientist can measure emotions and consciousness which will not happen in our lifetime, this is a poor converse argument. Also, it is important to recognise that many scientists practice meditation in various forms regularly.