… Yoga is one stress management tool that we can do from our homes. Unlike some activities, you can practice yoga in a small space with little to no equipment. You can practice on your own, or with guidance. There are many free yoga videos on YouTube and elsewhere for guided yoga practices of all types. In a heartening response to social distancing requirements, many yoga teachers and organizations are offering resources for both live and recorded yoga sessions. Recorded sessions can be practiced at whatever time works best for you. Virtual live sessions also allow the potential for connection with others, a valuable offering in this time of isolation.
So why yoga?
Well, simply, because it works. More and more empirical evidence supports yoga as an adjunctive strategy for managing stress and increasing wellbeing. People who practice yoga experience less anxiety, less depression, and fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Yoga also improves wellbeing including increased gratitude, compassion, relatedness, acceptance, centeredness, empowerment, self-esteem, compassion, self-awareness, and hope.
In a study I recently conducted with the non-profit Yoga 4 Change, yoga students who participated in a trauma-informed yoga curriculum while incarcerated reported many positive effects. They experienced better emotional regulation, self-compassion, forgiveness, and posttraumatic growth. Participants slept better. They also experienced less anxiety, implemented more positive coping strategies, and shared their coping tools with peers and family members. …
