Yoga for Elevation

Yoga for Elevation. 

This yoga class is designed to lift your mood, calm anxiety, reduce stress and elevate your spirits. As we journey through life women can experience emotional fluctuations and suffer from low mood, increased anxiety, self doubt and loss of enthusiasm.  This yoga class is designed to alleviate these changes. 

***Please note our coming term is 4 weeks as I am away in early August, term dates are 15th, 22nd and 29th July and the 19th August.

Yoga can be a helpful complementary practice for managing anxiety, depression and stress. Yoga uses physical postures, breathing exercises, mindfulness, relaxation and meditation to promote overall well-being. We will also use accupressure points that specifically address these issues. 

Here are some ways yoga may benefit individuals with anxiety, low mood and/or depression:

- Stress Reduction: The combination of gentle stretches, controlled breathing, and mindfulness can help lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone. Yoga helps to regulate the Nervous System by activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System.  

- Physical Activity: Regular physical activity is beneficial for mental health. Yoga provides a gentle yet effective way to incorporate gentle movement.  Exercise can stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators.  

- Mindfulness: Yoga encourages mindfulness, and fosters a strong mind body connection and awareness of physical and emotional states. This assists practitioners to stay present and reduce rumination, mental clutter and negative thought patterns. Through regular practice, yoga can help improve emotional regulation and resilience, reducing the impact of stress and anxiety, leading to better mood regulation,  increased feelings of well-being and help break the cycle of anxious  or depressive thoughts and 

- Meditation Practices: Help calm the mind, reducing anxiety, elevating mood and promoting a sense of inner peace.

- Enhanced Relaxation: Yoga practices like Shavasana (corpse pose) and Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) can help to relax the body and reduce physical tension, which in turn can help improve sleep.  Yoga poses can help release physical tension in the body. Tension in the body can contribute to feelings of anxiety, so relieving this tension can reduce overall anxiety levels. 

- Improved Circulation: Yoga improves blood circulation, which can help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety such as headaches, rapid heart rate, and muscle tightness as well as restore energy and vitality.

- Breathing Techniques: Pranayama, or yogic breathing exercises, can help calm the nervous system and improve emotional regulation.

- Hormonal Balance:  The reduction of Stress Hormones: Yoga can lower levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, leading to reduced anxiety and stress.

- Improved Sleep: Yoga can assist to improve sleep quality and duration, which is crucial for managing anxiet, stress and depression. Restorative poses and evening practices can promote better sleep.

- Community and Support:  Practicing yoga in a group setting can provide a sense of community and support, which is beneficial for those feeling isolated and /or experiencing anxiety or depression. 

- Enhanced Cognitive Function: Yoga practices that incorporate meditation and mindfulness can improve cognitive function, helping to clear the mind and enhance focus.

- Research Studies: Numerous studies have shown that yoga can significantly reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. For example, a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice found that yoga was effective in reducing anxiety levels in participants.

- Personalized Approach: Yoga is very adaptable and can be tailored to individual needs and fitness levels, making it accessible for people of all ages and physical conditions.

Please always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise regimen, especially if you have a history of depression or other mental health conditions

In summary, yoga offers a holistic approach to managing anxiety, combining physical movement, breath control, and mindfulness to promote overall well-being, positive outlook and stress reduction.

We will use props as needed to make the practsie safe and accessible to all. Suitable for all levels of ability and practise, beginners welcome. There is no expectation to be flexible or fit, just a willingness to have a go.

Booking is essential. Your teacher Megan has been teaching yoga for 20 years. She is a Registered Senior Teacher with Yoga Australia and is a certified Menopause Yoga Teacher, which is an accredited course by Yoga Australia and the British Yoga Wheel. Megan is also an accredited Hatha Yoga Teacher, and a Level 2 Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Please let her know if you are pregnant or have any injuries so we can modify the practise for you. Dress in comfortable clothes that you can move freely in. Leave at least an hour gap between a large meal and coming to class.

Please bring a pillow case to class if you would like a hygenic bolster cover. You are welcome to bring your own yoga mat and 2 blankets to class, otherwise they are supplied.

Term 3A Dates: Monday 15th, 22nd and 29th July and the 19th August.

Investment: $80 for the 4 week term or $25 per cansual class.

Venue: MG Yoga - 100 Princes Hwy Thirroul MG Yoga is a bespoke Yoga Studio, located in nature in a secluded valley on the left going up Bulli Pass. Please drive down our long driveway, it is concrete, steep and safe. There is plenty of parking and room to turn around at the bottom. Alternatively you can park nearby in Bangalow Rd and walk down.