Meditation and stress-reduction techniques have always been used as potential treatments for both depression and anxiety.
When looking for ways to release built-in stress, many people turn to activities such as yoga to deal with problems they are having.
The majority of people start yoga for “physical exercise, improved health, or stress management“, but overtime their reasoning to join could change with the different benefits it provides.
What actually is yoga?
Yoga is a mind and body activity that has been traced back to over 5,000 years ago.
There is an estimated 460,000 people practicing yoga within the United Kingdom currently, and that number looks almost certain to increase as well.
Just how beneficial is yoga for mental health though?
Marnie Sullivan runs weekly yoga classes in Acklam.
In her own words, the Monday classes “are a mixture of Hatha & Ashtanga Vinyasa style Yoga flow. They consist of breathing practice with physical movement, postures and a sprinkle of mindfulness.”
Watch below to get Marnie’s thoughts on the benefits of yoga for mental health, as well as how the activity has helped regular attendee Tony Nolan.
ABOUT ME
Hello, my name is Olly Burdett and I am a Multimedia Journalist in the final year of my degree at Teesside University.
Course
Sport Journalism, BA (Hons)
Biography
Having written passionately about football before my time at Teesside University, I decided to make the move from Hull to Middlesbrough to expand my journalistic skills and capabilities. During the last three years, my interests in journalism have changed significantly. After experiencing the high levels of homelessness in the town and discovering the shocking statistics around male suicide in the North East, I decided I wanted to move away from sport slightly and instead report on issues that I believe really mattered. Additionally, politics has dominated our day-to-day lives recently and despite finding it difficult to keep track of it all, I have become incredibly interested in what is happening in both our country and the world. I haven’t completely lost my passion for sport though. A lot of my recent content now looks at the relationship between sport and mental health.
Software & Hardware Proficiencies
I am an Adobe Certified Associate in Visual Design using Adobe Photoshop. I am also skilled in other Adobe software such as Audition and Premiere Pro. I am equipped at using video cameras such as the AC-90.
Employment, Work Experience & Volunteering
I have experience of producing work for both Sky News and BBC Tees. I have also carried out work for Middlesbrough Football Club, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation and Tees Valley Sport. I voluntarily worked as a Social Media Manager for Stockton-based charity A Way Out as part of their 2018 Christmas campaign.
Interests
Despite studying on a Sport Journalism course, I have a huge interest in a different number of topics.
During my time at Teesside University, I have created content around current affairs and politics, as well as mental health.
One thing that I believe really shows in my content is that I love learning about new topics and issues to increase both my knowledge and flexibility. Who knows what I will post about next?
