Yoga for Serenity is a gentle yoga class designed to promote health for people living with depression and anxiety. Our research at MBI shows that this course has been effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. In this course we practice warm ups, basic asanas that help with anxiety and depression, breathing techniques, relaxation, and meditation.

Following the teachings of the Buddha, we use yoga as a vehicle to explore body and breath, sensations, mental formations, and impermanence. Breath and mind are intimately linked, and the course begins with learning about breath and breathing patterns. We then learn how to breathe properly, with the full body essential breath. Yoga asanas offer a unique opportunity to experience sensations of the body, witness mental formations of the mind, and to see the impermanent nature of all things. Yoga for Serenity builds the practice of mindfulness into gentle yoga practice.

We have expanded Yoga for Serenity by three new sessions to a nine week course. In the first new session, Dr. Panico, the Director of MBI, speaks on the nutrition for optimal brain health, and provides information on supplements, dosages and frequency. The second new session covers healthy eating with the guest speaker Robin Bewley, Health Educator and Yoga Program Manager. The third additional session is on positive thinking and cognitive restructuring.

Yoga for Serenity builds physical and mental health through learning proper breath, proper exercise, proper diet, proper relaxation, and positive thinking and meditation. This course is appropriate for people with no yoga experience, but also accommodates those with yoga experience seeking a gentle practice.