Articles on psychology topics, parenting issues, and brain mysteries by clinical psychologist Dr. Tali Shenfield
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Stand Up For Mental Health Campaign
Our staff at Richmond Hill Psychology Center is delighted to support "Stand Up for Mental Health" campaign by HealthyPlace.com American Mental Health Channel. The goal of this campaign is to eliminate the stigma of mental disorder and let people know that open talk about mental health is beneficial for everyone. Having a mental illness is not somebody's choice, and people shouldn't be discriminated for being ill. We hope that eliminating the stigma (incl. self-stigma) will cause patients to seek therapy sooner than later and this will greatly improve their chances of recovery.
Monday, 14 January 2013
Psychological Benefits of Yoga and Meditation
I have been practicing Yoga and meditation
for many years, so I decided to write this short article to influence my readers...
Yoga was born in India over 5000 years ago.
The goal of Yoga is to harmonize and bring a sense of union to your spirit ,
mind , and body. This ancient practice combines postures with breathing
techniques and meditation. Yoga is known to restore
energy, health, balance, and life attitude. It is considered to be the most
powerful overall health and well-being system
ever invented. Unlike other forms of exercises that solely focus on developing
and strengthening the body, Yoga comes with valuable benefits for calming and organizing your mind.
Practicing Yoga on a regular basis helps to
boost self-confidence. Yoga energizes your mind, and makes you more confident
and determined, so that you are ready to deal with any challenges of life. It
helps to attain the sense of worth and confidence to follow your dreams and
goals with great conviction.
Doing Yoga asanas on a routine basis
enhances brain wave coherence that further helps to improve brain functions,
such as memory, cognitive and intellect. It creates new neural pathways and
reduces dysfunctional thinking and depressive attitude. Yoga has a great impact
on several hormones within the body. It reduces stress by lowering the
stress-related hormones (cortisol) in the body. It tunes your body and mind for
greater efficiency and performance. It also increases the levels of serotonin
in the body, which further helps in increasing happiness and emotional
stability.
Yoga teaches you to focus on breathing
while you hold the poses. This helps you to quiet your mind, so that you can
focus your energy wherever you want. It brings a state of mental calmness and
joy where you feel satisfaction with your life. Those who practice yoga and
meditation have decreased irritability, moodiness, crankiness and feelings of
depression. With less stress and anxiety and more confidence, you feel more
energetic and rejuvenated, which in turn enhances your efficiency.
The ancient practice of meditation is an
integral part of Yoga. To meditate is to become acutely aware of what’s going
on within your mind. Meditation is all about controlling or taming your mind so
that you can focus all your energy wherever you want. Meditating on a regular
basis helps you to stay centered or focused no matter what the circumstances or
situation is. Hence, it is a great way to learn how to accept the challenges of
the life and maintain peace and integrity even during the most difficult times.
Yoga and meditation increases the self-awareness and self-realization, where
you communicate with your inner feelings and focus on your positive energy and
inner-self. It helps you discover the positive aspects with your True Self so
that you become well aware of your strengths as well as weaknesses and
limitations and are ready to accept them. It helps you to realize what you
really want or desire even at sub conscious level.
When practiced regularly, yoga meditation
can become a powerful and sophisticated discipline for achieving physical,
mental, and emotional well-being.
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