Mental Health
Mind-Body Practices
Yoga, meditation, and Kai Chi Do are all considered mind-body practices. This is a practice that works to integrate the mind and body for optimal well-being, using a variety of techniques, of which breath is typically included.
They all also work towards positive mental health, towards mental well-being. Practices like these can work to change the hardwiring of the brain overtime, they can change the way we process thought and how we are able to cope with life.
Meditation for instance has been shown to reduce anxiety because when we meditate it weakens neural pathways to the medial frontal cortex from the area of the brain responsible for fear, so we don’t go into fight or flight when it’s not needed. When we weaken this connection, we strengthen the connection to the area responsible for reasoning, allowing us to make more logical, less fear-based decisions.
Mental-Wellness
So many of us have felt broken or disconnected. Most are, or have, battled addiction in one form or another. Remember, addiction is defined as “exhibiting a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need,” for something. This can be anything; heroin, food, or running. It’s about the mind grasping.
There is no freedom in addiction. There is no freedom in a loop of constant sadness. There is no freedom in isolation.
In our Mental-Wellness Classes we practice in the context of openness and freedom. The practices themselves will work towards mental well-being on their own, but expect to hear additional talk about positive habit building, letting go, finding joy, etc. This is a place where you can leave your pain.