Restorative Yoga for Depression

This session looks at Yoga for Depression and how to use Restorative poses to work with Depression

Here’s an article about Iyengar Yoga from the University of Westminster about using Yoga-based interventions as an option for the treatment of depression. The study systematically reviews research evidence on the effectiveness of yoga. A study on the Effectiveness of Yoga Therapy in the Treatment of Migraine from the American Headache Society shows medical research on the efficacy of yoga for Depression.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks depression as the 4th largest health problem affecting society. Symptoms of depression include negative and repetitive thoughts about the world and self, loss of energy, changes in eating and sleeping, along with low self-esteem and loss of confidence.

There are many different treatments for depression, ranging from types of psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and medication to nutrition, diet and alternative therapies.

Yoga offers a unique approach to depression as it addresses the mental factors that lead to depression, and the physiological factors. In this way a person is able to practice yoga to that help relax the physical systems and begin the process of self-investigation and discovery.