Blog / General

Yoga is More Than Stretching

Celebrating Whole-Person Wellness on World Yoga Day - June 21, 2025

Posted Monday, Jun 23, 2025 by Dr Cloe Crowhurst (Osteopath). Filed under General

Key Takeaways

• Holistic Health Benefits: Yoga extends far beyond physical stretching to support mental, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing simultaneously
• Stress & Mental Health: Regular practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system, effectively reducing anxiety, depression, and stress-related symptoms while improving sleep quality
• Chronic Condition Support: Research shows yoga can help manage conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and chronic pain through improved cardiovascular health and stress reduction
• Community & Connection: Group yoga practice fosters social bonds, empathy, and spiritual connection while building emotional resilience and self-awareness

Physical Wellbeing: Moving Toward Strength and Vitality

Yoga has well-established benefits for the body improving flexibility, strength and balance. However, its role in physical health goes far deeper. According to a systematic review published in Nursing & Health Sciences (Sharma et al., 2021), yoga encourages parasympathetic activation, improving sleep and reducing physical symptoms of stress. This in turn may impact on improved cardiovascular health, pulmonary function, and can aid in the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes.

Mental Wellbeing: Calming the Mind, Cultivating Resilience

Yoga's meditative components breath control, mindfulness, and focused movement are powerful tools for enhancing mental clarity and reducing psychological distress. Research by Kamraju et al. (2023) and Umadevi et al. (2013) suggests that consistent yoga practice may reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD by regulating stress related hormones and neurotransmitters.

For a deeper dive into how movement supports mental health, our clinic's Dr. Cloe Crowhurst explores this connection in detail in her comprehensive guide on movement for mental wellbeing.

Emotional Wellbeing: Connecting With Our Inner Self

Yoga doesn’t just help regulate the body and mind it helps us tune into our emotional landscape. Yoga has been shown to facilitate greater emotional awareness, regulation, and self-compassion, which are key to navigating life’s ups and downs. Some research suggests yoga may enhance activation of brain circuits related to emotional processing, helping people to respond rather than react to emotional triggers.

A Holistic Practice for a Healthier Life

On World Yoga Day, we celebrate a practice that’s much more than physical. Yoga is a multidimensional tool that supports many facets of human health. Helping us move better, think clearer, feel more deeply, connect more compassionately, and live more meaningfully.

This comprehensive approach to wellness aligns perfectly with the seven pillars of wellbeing we explored in our World Health Day guide, demonstrating how different wellness practices can work together to support your overall health.

References

Sharma, M., et al. (2021). The effectiveness of yoga on physical health. Nursing & Health Sciences. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nhs.12931

Kamraju, M., et al. (2023). The Impact of Yoga on Mental Health. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371139056

Gupta, R., et al. (2021). Effect of Yoga on Emotional Regulation. Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-5857-0_51

PYRC. (2024). Study on the Effect of Yoga Practice on Regulation of Emotions. https://pyrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Study-on-the-Effect-of-Yoga-Practice-on-Regulation-of-Emotions.pdf

Singh, S., et al. (2020). Yoga for Social Wellbeing. Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine. https://www.jahm.co.in/index.php/jahm/article/view/1192

Park, C.L., et al. (2021). Yoga and Spiritual Wellbeing. Frontiers in Psychology. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.695939/full

Umadevi, P., Ramachandra, S., Varambally, S., Philip, M., & Gangadhar, B. N. (2013). Effect of yoga therapy on anxiety and depressive symptoms and quality-of-life among caregivers of in-patients with neurological disorders at a tertiary care center in India: A randomized controlled trial. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(Suppl 3), S385–S389. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.116304

This article was written by Dr Cloe Crowhurst, Osteopath at Brunswick Chiropractic, who is passionate about helping patients understand about Mental wellbeing and how we can help nuture it.

Frequently Asked Questions about Yoga and Wellbeing

Q. How often should I practice yoga to see mental health benefits? 

A. Research suggests that practicing yoga 2-3 times per week for at least 8 weeks can show significant improvements in mental wellbeing, including reduced anxiety and depression symptoms.

Q. Can yoga really help with chronic health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure? 

A. Yes, studies indicate that regular yoga practice can support management of various chronic conditions by improving cardiovascular health, reducing stress hormones, and promoting better sleep patterns. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program.

Q. What's the difference between yoga and regular stretching exercises? 

A. While both improve flexibility, yoga incorporates breath work, mindfulness, meditation, and spiritual elements that address mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing alongside physical benefits.

Q. Do I need to join a yoga class, or can I practice at home?

A. Both options are beneficial! Classes provide community support and professional guidance, while home practice offers convenience and personalisation. Many people combine both approaches.