October is Mental Health Month – How Yoga Supports the Mind
October is recognised as Mental Health Month, a gentle reminder to slow down, tune in, and nurture the part of ourselves that keeps everything else running — our mind.
While yoga is often celebrated for building flexibility and strength, it’s the mental benefits that make so many of us fall in love with the practice — and stay.
As someone who practises and teaches yoga every day, I’ve seen how this ancient discipline can soften anxious thoughts, bring clarity to a busy mind, and create space for calm — even in life’s most challenging moments.
The Mind at the Heart of Yoga
Yoga was never just about stretching or poses. Its roots go back over 5,000 years, built on a philosophy of balance — between body, breath and mind.
Through movement, mindfulness, and breath (Pranayama), yoga teaches us how to pause, observe, and connect inwardly. When we start to notice our thoughts without being ruled by them, something shifts. We find steadiness. We breathe differently. We feel different.
My Morning Nadi Shodhana Practice
Every morning, before the world wakes up, I begin my day with Nadi Shodhana — a simple but powerful breathing practice also known as alternate nostril breathing.
This technique helps calm the nervous system, balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and bring clarity before the day begins.
Here’s a simple version you can try:
Sit comfortably with your spine tall and shoulders relaxed.
Place your right hand in front of your face. Use your thumb to gently close your right nostril.
Inhale slowly through your left nostril for a count of four.
Close both nostrils and hold the breath for a count of four.
Release your right nostril and exhale for four.
Inhale through the right nostril for four.
Close both nostrils again and hold for four.
Exhale through the left nostril for four.
That’s one round. Continue for three to ten minutes, staying soft in the face and shoulders. If your mind wanders, gently guide it back to your breath. If a count of four means that you are exhaling too quickly, pull it back to the count of two on the inhale.
It’s one of the most grounding, centring practices I know — a daily reminder that peace is something we can breathe ourselves back into.
How Yoga Supports Mental Wellbeing
Research continues to show what yoga practitioners have known for centuries — that consistent practice supports better mental health outcomes.
Regular yoga can:
Reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression
Improve sleep and emotional regulation
Support trauma recovery and nervous system balance
Cultivate mindfulness and presence
Build resilience and a greater sense of connection
When we move and breathe with awareness, we create the space to release tension, let go of self-judgement, and meet ourselves exactly where we are.
Making Yoga Part of Your Mental Health Routine
If you’ve been thinking about starting or returning to yoga, October is a beautiful time to begin. You don’t need to be flexible or fit — just willing to show up for yourself.
Come and join one of my gentle, supportive yoga classes in Kalamunda, where the focus is on slow, mindful movement, accessible postures, and practices that help calm the mind and nurture your whole being.
Let this month be your invitation to rest, breathe, and reconnect.
Making Yoga Part of Your Mental Health Routine
If you’ve been thinking about starting or returning to yoga, October is a beautiful time to begin. You don’t need to be flexible or fit — just willing to show up for yourself.
Come and join one of my gentle, supportive yoga classes in Kalamunda, where the focus is on slow, mindful movement, accessible postures, and practices that help calm the mind and nurture your whole being.
Let this month be your invitation to rest, breathe, and reconnect.
Book your spot today: www.cittaflow.com.au/book-classes
Or simply take five minutes right now, close your eyes, and try a few rounds of Nadi Shodhana.
Your breath is always waiting to bring you home.
