Yoga for Mental Health Workshop

In this class, Elleni Paulson will discuss the nature of mental illness and the benefits of yoga, and guide us through a flow that's built specifically for those struggling with their mental health. (15 minute discussion; 10 min break/Q&A; 30 minute flow). Mindfulness exercises including breath work, meditation, mindfulness in movement, body awareness and self-love, can help reduce ADHD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. A review of 11 studies (2019) showed that a routine yoga practice can lead to increased structure and/or function of brain regions impacted by ADHD. Focused movement can decrease pre-motor activity or reverberatory activity in people with ADHD (the signals that tell ADHD brains to move more). Symptoms of ADHD include: Difficulty sustaining attention, difficulty with organization, poor emotional regulation, impulsiveness, forgetfulness, restlessness, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Neural networks of the brain that are effected by ADHD are the executive control network (inhibitory control, self regulation), corticocerebellar network (complex motor skills, cognitive function), reward networks (how we experience reward and punishment). Elleni will be sharing knowledge on how yoga effects our brains and bodies and practical ways we can use mindfulness techniques, breath, and yoga to balance our mental health.