Empower Program at Yoga Pointe, Inc

Mental Illness

Overall mental health is an aspect of our lives that often takes a back seat to physical health, however the state of mental health is inextricably linked to the state of physical health and overall well being.  While all of us will experience mental and emotional challenges, there are many people across the US and the world whose mental health is impacted so significantly that their daily and overall life functioning is persistently affected resulting in a mental illness.

Prevalence of Mental Illness data from www.nami.org

• Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year. 
• Approximately 1 in 25 adults in the U.S.—9.8 million, or 4.0%—experiences a serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
• Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 (21.4%) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. For children aged 8–15, the estimate is 13%.
• 1.1% of adults in the U.S. live with schizophrenia.
• 2.6% of adults in the U.S. live with bipolar disorder.
• 6.9% of adults in the U.S.—16 million—had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
• 18.1% of adults in the U.S. experienced an anxiety disorder such as posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias.
• Among the 20.2 million adults in the U.S. who experienced a substance use disorder, 50.5%—10.2 million adults—had a co-occurring mental illness.

There are many successful treatments for mental illness and scholars in the field continue to create innovative and effective interventions to aid individuals and families cope with all aspects of mental illness from the symptoms to the stigma.  Complementary and Alternative treatments have also been implemented in the treatment of mental illness and are showing promising results.  One of these areas is the use of yoga to assist in managing and reducing symptoms of mental illness.  Yoga has been used for centuries to create a balanced state of mind and to align with the Western medical protocols, it has been the subject of empirical research to support its benefits.  Many studies have supported that yoga cultivates a sense of balance, connection, worth and belonging which aid in managing and reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental illnesses.  The growing body of research on yoga and the psychological benefits reveal that some of the most consistent and reproducible effects include stress reduction, emotion regulation, improved mood and well-being, improved cognitive functioning, enhanced respiratory function, improved physical flexibility, muscular strength and neuromuscular performance. 

Empower Program

At Yoga Pointe, our vision is to cultivate physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness for all.  Our mission is to create a welcoming and peaceful space and have diverse offerings grounded in yogic traditions to inspire students and the community to root deep and grow.  Our Empower Program, conveys our desire for everyone to experience some peace and balance, if even for a few moments and to supplement the cost of yoga classes for those suffering from mental illness and conditions.