Written by Aviva Tulasi
May is mental health awareness month. It is a time to actively engage in conversations about our struggles and triumphs related to mental health. According to NAMI, the national movement has sought to raise awareness about mental health, fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. May has been mental health awareness month since 1949. Still, mental disorders affect the lives of millions of Americans. About one-fourth of adults in any given year and nearly half of adults at some time during their lives experience a mental disorder.
In the 1980’s the stigma of having a mental disorder drove my mother to commit suicide. My mother believed that her mental disorder would last her entire life. She wrote that she was dooming my siblings and myself to a difficult life, one that mirrored her own experience in foster care. My mother expected to end up like my grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, incapacited by mental illness and unable to raise children. At the age of 28, my mother thought suicide was a better option. Her mental struggles were probably just postpartum depression. She could have had a thriving adult life if she didn’t have the perception that mental illness was a long-term problem.
We have come a long way since the 80s. It is now generally recognized that people can recover from a mental disorder. We witness brave celebrities and sports stars sharing their struggles with mental health. As a whole, our society is willing to accept that mental health is just as important as physical health.
SAMHSA's, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services agency for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration defines recovery (whether from mental disorders or substance abuse) as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.
Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA has delineated four major dimensions that support a life in recovery:
Health
Overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) or symptoms—for example, abstaining from use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and non-prescribed medications if one has an addiction problem— and for everyone in recovery, making informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional wellbeing.
Home
A stable and safe place to live
Purpose
Meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income and resources to participate in society
Community
Relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.
Learn more about SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Initiative at http://www.samhsa.gov/recovery.
There is some evidence that yoga may be helpful in reducing depressive symptoms. But yoga is not a cure. Yoga offers tools that supports your mental health and it promotes a lifestyle aligned to the four major dimensions of recovery.
Health
Although yoga is not limited to physical practices, it is still a form of exercise.
Yoga postures and movements may improve circulation and can help you gain mobility.
Anytime you exercise you release endorphins that promote a healthy body and mind.
The practice of yoga may reduce negative stress which is a leading contributor to many health problems.
Mindfulness and breathing exercises promote being present in the moment, thus reducing focusing on negative emotions and the increasing ability to relax.
Purpose
Just like dancing, yoga is a creative expression for the body.
When you enjoy being in the present moment in savasana or meditation, one can experience a creative flow of thoughts.
The principles of yoga are rooted in selfless actions, volunteering or service.
Community.
When you join a class you get an opportunity to be in the presence of like-minded people.
Before and after a class you have time to chat with peers and find common interests.
The mindfulness that you learn in yoga translates into more compassion for others.
As we celebrate the month of brave conversations and tips about our mental wellbeing, remember just like exercise, improving mental health is a long-term investment. You can not exercise for a month and expect to reap the rewards years later. You have to be proactive and find healthy methods to continually include the four major dimensions into your daily life.
Aviva Tulasi is not a psychologist. The thoughts and opinions written here are based on her experience. Everyone’s experience is unique. This blog is not a prescription for recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please seek advice from a medical expert.
Find your balance. Dogwood Studios offers numerous classes both online and in person to bring the four major dimensions of recovery into your daily life. Sign up for a group class today.
Reach out to us via email with any questions or comments at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com.
Aviva Chaye Tulasi is a team member at Dogwood Studios. She is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). She applies the teachings of classical yoga to reduce the effects of negative stress and to balance the nervous system. Aviva is available for private sessions. Email Aviva at yogawithtulasi@gmail.com with any questions.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.