Yoga is increasingly popular as a way to manage stress and anxiety and improve overall well-being. Why is yoga so effective, and what makes it different from exercise? What can research tell us about the key components that make yoga work? If you are new to yoga, or a seasoned practitioner, you will love this discussion between Dr. Julie Kangas and Dr. Diana Hill on the science and wisdom of yoga.

About Dr. Julie Kangas

Julie Kangas, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified yoga teacher, and certified compassion meditation teacher. She is an associate clinical professor at University of California, San Diego and a psychologist at the San Diego VA. Her current research interests include applying yoga and meditation as treatments for mental and physical illness. She serves as the Director of the Advanced Fellowship for Women’s Health and teaches doctoral and post-doctoral candidates in clinical psychology. She is the Chair of the Women’s Mental Health Committee, a Women’s Health Champion, and a member of the Diversity Action Committee, focused on training. She was recently honored by the George W. Bush Presidential Center as a leadership scholar for her work serving post-9/11 Veterans.

Key Takeaways

• Psychological science is showing that yoga is beneficial for mental health in addition to physical health
• Yoga offers benefits above and beyond exercise
• Three key components of yoga include physical activity, breathwork, and mindfulness
• It is important to be aware of cultural appropriation, consumerism, and inclusivity in yoga
• You don’t need to have a “yoga body,” attend the perfect yoga class, or have a lot of time to start practicing today!

Related Resources

• Download Your Daily Practice for this episode
• Find out what kind of Striver you are and get your free Skillful Striving Toolkit
• Learn more about Dr. Julie Kangas
• Breathe with Diana on Insight Timer
• Learn More about Lightfully Behavioral Health 
• Looking for a great yoga class? Check out Yoga Soup
• Want to know more about breathing? Read Breath by James Nester
• Want to explore cultural appropriation and yoga? Read Embrace Yoga’s Roots
• Want to deepen your understanding of the tradition of yoga? Read The Yamas and Niyamas, The Heart of Yoga, and The Inner Tradition of Yoga.

Diana’s Events

• Reserve your spot in Diana’s Reset and Restore Retreat in Costa Rica in 2023!
• Sign up for Diana’s From Striving to Thriving Summit!
• See Diana at an upcoming event

Connecting With Diana

Thank you for listening to Your Life in Process! Subscribe to the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts. If you have any questions or feedback you can contact Diana by email podcast at yourlifeinprocess dot com or leave Diana an audio message at (805) 457-2776. Follow Diana at YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.

Thank you to the team Craig, Angela Stubbs, Ashley Hiatt, and Abby Diehl. Thank you to Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.

Remember when you become psychologically flexible, you become free.

Episode Segments

• [00:00] Introduction
• [01:56] Sponsor: Lightfully Behavior Health
• [03:46] What Is It About Yoga That Makes It Different From Exercise?
• [05:19] 3 Main Benefits of Yoga
• [08:21] Yoga For All Bodies
• [10:02] How Is Yoga Helpful For PTSD?
• [11:53] How To Breathe If You Are Anxious
• [13:32] The 8 Limbs Of Yoga
• [14:18] The Science of Asana
• [15:27] The Research On Exercise
• [21:22] What Happens On The Mat Happens Off the Mat
• [22:23] Awareness Of Your 8 Senses
• [23:46] Mindfulness As Exposure
• [27:29] Yoga For Body Image
• [31:00] Cultural Appropriation and Yoga
• [36:26] Synchronicity and Yoga
• [37:44] The Benefits Of Breathwork
• [38:41] The Science Of Breath
• [43:27] Movement, Mindfulness And Breathwork You Can Do Today
• [43:58] Counterposes For Balancing The Body
• [46:42] A Daily Mindfulness Practice
• [49:16] A Daily Breathwork Practice
• [58:35] The Case Study Of One
• [01:00:11] Your Daily Practice
• [01:02:35] Connect With The Podcast