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Yoga Teachers as Mental Health Allies: Bridging Practices for Holistic Well-being
In an era where mental health challenges affect an increasing number of individuals worldwide, the quest for effective interventions has become paramount. The confluence of this urgency and the expanding realm of complementary therapies like yoga has sparked a fascinating inquiry: How prepared are yoga teachers to support individuals living with mental health issues?
Wisdom Yoga Institute’s cofounder Dr Jean Byrne, touched on this in her recent Psychology Honours thesis titled “Holding Space”: A Qualitative Analysis of Yoga Teachers’ Beliefs and Experiences Delivering a Mental Health Intervention. This original research project was conducted in collaboration with Murdoch University, and unearthed meaningful insights.
A staggering statistic forms the backdrop: nearly a billion individuals worldwide grapple with mental health disorders, making them a leading cause of disability. Australia mirrors this global trend, where anxiety and mood disorders afflict two out of every five individuals aged 16-85. Alarming as these numbers are, the accessibility and affordability of effective mental health care remain elusive for many. Consequently, an increasing number of health seekers turn to complementary practices, navigating towards the mind-body equilibrium offered by modalities such as yoga.
Jean’s study sought to explore the mental health beliefs and experiences of yoga teachers—pioneers in an evolving landscape where ancient practices intersect with contemporary healthcare needs. Ten impassioned yoga teachers, integral to a clinical trial comparing yoga and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) at Murdoch University, shared their narratives through in-depth interviews. These personal, introspective dialogues unveiled a tapestry of insights, subsequently analysed through reflexive thematic analysis to distil three foundational themes.
The first theme, “Mental health is socially determined”, echoed participants’ beliefs that external factors significantly influence mental well-being. This perspective accentuated the societal and contextual underpinnings of mental health challenges. “Empowered to self-manage”, the second theme, encapsulated how these yoga practitioners harnessed yoga as a personal tool for bolstering their mental well-being. Their experiences painted a vivid picture of yoga as a daily companion in navigating the complexities of mental health.
However, perhaps the most intriguing theme, “Teaching from lived experience”, illuminated how these yoga teachers integrated their personal encounters with yoga, mental healthcare, and the clinical trial context into their teaching philosophy. Their narratives underscored a profound belief in the complementary role of yoga in mental health care—a sentiment resonating with the concept of peer support workers emphasizing lived experiences and personal empowerment.
Notably, despite their comparatively limited formal training in contrast to mental health professionals, these yoga teachers embodied a profound sense of preparedness to aid individuals attending yoga with mental health concerns. Their approach wasn’t just about yoga poses and breathing exercises; it was about acknowledging the social determinants of mental health while equipping their students with practical tools for daily mental well-being.
This study points to a potential future pathway for yoga professionals’ training standards. The role of yoga teachers in mental healthcare, as revealed through this research, suggests a need for structured guidelines for the training of yoga teachers engaged with vulnerable mental health populations. Such guidelines could fortify yoga’s pivotal role in addressing the burgeoning mental health crisis, forging a collaborative path alongside conventional mental health care.
At Wisdom Yoga Institute, our presenters are scholar-practitioners with extensive publications and experience relevant to Yoga Therapy. Our Wisdom Yoga Therapy training is the only IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists) accredited course in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, and the practicum component gives our trainees the opportunity to teach on clinical trials for yoga.
This research shares yoga teachers’ experiences delivering yoga in a clinical trial, and shows why yoga is so important to people’s mental health while also addressing obstacles to mental health care including lack of accessibility and affordability.
The journey doesn’t end here; this is a call to action—a call to weave yoga into the fabric of mental health care, nurturing a world where well-being is not a privilege but a right for all.
Interested in expanding your knowledge, click here to download our WYT prospectus or email Chandrika Gibson for further information.
Yoga Teachers: Unleash the Power of Research for Student Well-being
As yoga teachers, we understand the transformative impact of yoga on our students’ physical and mental well-being. However, an important shift that happens as yoga teachers add to their studies to become yoga therapists, is the way in which we recognize the importance of research in guiding our teaching practices and maximizing the benefits we offer. While a vast majority of yoga teachers acknowledge the significance of research, astonishingly, very few actively integrate research into their teaching methods. In this blog, we will explore why developing research literacy is crucial for yoga teachers and therapists and how it empowers us to provide the most effective and evidence-based support to our students and clients. Let’s bridge the gap between traditional holistic approaches and research-informed teaching, by balancing intellectual and intuitive ways of knowing, we are unlocking the true potential of yoga.
The Power of Research-Informed Yoga Teaching:
Research is known as ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ as it is a process by which new knowledge is developed based on the accrued knowledge of those who have gone before us. We believe research holds the key to unlocking deeper insights into the physiological and psychological benefits of yoga. There is a constant evolution in yoga which is best served by staying up to date with multidisciplinary research. By reading widely, critically evaluating, and integrating research into our teaching and therapeutic practices, we can go beyond personal experience and anecdotal evidence, offering our students the most effective and evidence-based techniques to enhance their well-being. It is a combination of traditional holistic approaches and the empirical study of yoga and health sciences that enables us to provide comprehensive support to our students.
Expanding Offerings and Student Impact:
When we embrace research, we are able to expand our offerings as teachers and therapists, deepening our capacity to work with specific health issues and elevating the impact we have on our students’ lives. By staying informed about the latest scientific studies and clinical trials, we gain a deeper understanding of how people heal and yoga’s potential as a therapeutic modality. This knowledge allows us to tailor our classes and programs to meet the specific needs of diverse populations, such as individuals with chronic conditions, mental health disorders, life-limiting illness, or special needs.
Challenging Misconceptions and Promoting Authenticity:
Unfortunately, some yoga teacher training courses are provided by educators without research experience or a true understanding of the science behind yoga. They may claim that yoga is a special knowledge beyond empirical study. While yoga does possess a mystical and transcendental quality, it is not exempt from scientific inquiry. By embracing research, we can challenge misconceptions and promote authenticity in our teaching. We can fuse ancient wisdom with modern science, creating a holistic approach that honours the essence of yoga while also harnessing its therapeutic potential.
The Wisdom Yoga Institute Advantage:
At Wisdom Yoga Institute, we prioritize research and its practical application in our teachings. Our owners and lead trainers are not only seasoned yoga practitioners but also actively involved in some of the world’s most significant clinical trials exploring yoga’s impact on mental health and well-being. From transdiagnostic approaches to mental health to supporting autistic youth with anxiety and aiding individuals with cancer and PTSD, our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices.
Expand Your Yoga Healing Potential:
By embracing research, you expand your teaching potential and amplify your impact as a yoga professional. Understanding the empirical evidence behind yoga’s benefits allows you to confidently design classes, workshops, and therapeutic interventions that are effective, safe, and tailored to the specific needs of your students. Incorporating research-informed practices brings depth, credibility, and a heightened level of professionalism to your offerings.
As yoga professionals, we have a responsibility to our students’ well-being. By developing research literacy and integrating evidence-based practices into our teaching and therapeutic offerings, we unlock the true potential of yoga as a transformative tool. Let’s bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and scientific inquiry, providing our students with a holistic and authentic yoga experience. Expand your knowledge, broaden your offerings, and enroll in our Yoga Therapy Teacher Training program. Discover the crucial role of research in elevating your teaching and creating meaningful change in the lives of your community.
