The first State-level yoga conference conduced by Department of Kannada and Culture and Karnataka Yoga Teachers Federation was held in the city on Saturday underlining the benefits of yoga to the world at large.

The conference was inaugurated by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao who said that yoga promotes mental peace in individuals leading to peace in society and the world.

He said the conference was being held to highlight the benefits of yoga and pointed out that Swami Vivekananda introduced it to the west and with it a slice of Indian culture. Apart from physical well-being it also promotes concentration of mind achieved through meditation, he added.

The Minister said yoga would be revived in educational institutions and the recently held Yogothsava reached about six lakh people in the State including ASHA and Anganwadi workers. Yoga kendras have been established across the State to promote the discipline in view of its health benefits, he added. Apart from physical and mental well being it also promotes spiritual growth resulting in peace and amity in society, the minister said.

Harish Gowda, MLA, Yoga convention committee president S.P. Yoganna and others were present.

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State-level yoga conference held in Mysuru - The Hindu

If you're trying to build endurance, low-impact exercises are a stellar place to start. These exercises offer short and long-term benefits for your body and prioritize joint health. In addition, low-impact training can deliver results comparable to high-impact alternatives while being kinder to your joints. Furthermore, low-impact exercises possess a unique power to elevate and sustain your heart rate, making them perfect for cultivating muscular endurance. That's why I'm here to share 10 of my top-recommended low-impact exercises to build endurance.

Whether you're just starting your fitness journey or a seasoned gym enthusiast, integrating low-impact training into your regimen is a smart move. Allow me to guide you through a handful of my favorite low-impact exercises to build endurance. These can be used for weekly workouts, cardio finishers after a strength training workout, or fun and effective active recovery sessions.

Continue reading for the 10 best low-impact exercises to build endurance. And when you're finished, don't miss these 5 Floor Workouts To Regain Muscle Mass as You Age.

Walking is an excellent choice for a low-impact exercise that effectively boosts endurance. It's accessible to people of all fitness levels and can easily be incorporated into your daily routine.

By maintaining a brisk pace, you can elevate your heart rate and keep it elevated for an extended period, improving cardiovascular health and muscular endurance. Additionally, walking engages multiple muscle groups, including the legs, core, and arms, contributing to overall strength and stamina.

Knock out a 30 to 60-minute walk for a steady-state workout, or ramp up the intensity by performing 10 to 20 rounds of 30-seconds on, 30-seconds off walking intervals at a brisk pace.

Here's How Long You Need To Walk Every Day for Weight Loss

Biking emerges as a stellar choice for a low-impact exercise that significantly enhances lower-body endurance while being gentle on the joints. Whether you opt for outdoor cycling adventures or prefer the controlled environment of a stationary bike indoors, the benefits remain consistent.

Pedaling engages key muscle groups in the legs, including the quads, hamstrings, and calves, fostering strength and endurance development over time. The beauty of biking lies in its versatility; it caters to various fitness levels and preferences, allowing individuals to tailor their workouts to their specific needs.

Hop on a bike for a steady-state workout lasting 30 to 60 minutes to build your endurance base. When you're ready for a new challenge, switch things up with 15 to 20 intervals consisting of 40 seconds of high-intensity effort followed by 20 seconds of an easy pace.

Swimming offers a multitude of benefits for full-body muscular endurance, mobility, and joint health. The resistance of the water provides a challenging yet gentle workout for muscles throughout the body, including the arms, legs, core, and back.

Additionally, the buoyancy of water reduces the strain on joints, making swimming a particularly appealing option for individuals with joint issues or those seeking a rehabilitation-friendly workout. Moreover, the range of motion required for swimming strokes enhances flexibility and mobility, promoting overall physical well-being.

Swim continuously for 20 to 30 minutes at a moderate pace, focusing on maintaining steady breathing and rhythm. Alternate between different strokes (freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke) to engage various muscle groups. An interval option would be to perform 10 to 12 rounds of 50-meter sprints, followed by 20-30 seconds of rest between each sprint. Focus on maintaining high intensity during the sprints, using your preferred stroke or alternating between different strokes for variety.

A 63-Year-Old Yoga Instructor's Top 3 Moves for Better Mobility

A rower is a powerhouse when it comes to boosting full-body endurance while offering the benefits of low-impact exercise for cardio workouts. This versatile machine simultaneously engages multiple muscle groups, including the legs, core, back, and arms, providing a comprehensive workout that improves strength and stamina.

Rowing is gentle on the joints, making it an excellent option for individuals with joint issues or those seeking a low-impact alternative to high-intensity cardio exercises. The fluid, rhythmic motion of rowing promotes cardiovascular health and endurance while minimizing the risk of injury, allowing individuals to push their limits without undue strain.

For an endurance-building workout, row continuously for 20 to 30 minutes at a moderate intensity, aiming to maintain a consistent stroke rate and rhythm throughout. Want a fun interval workout? Alternate between 1:00 of rowing at a high intensity (aim for a stroke rate of 26 to 30 strokes per minute) and 1:00 of rowing at a recovery pace (lower stroke rate, relaxed effort) for a total of 10 to 15 rounds.

The SkiErg offers unique workouts. This machine mimics the double-pole motion of cross-country skiing, engaging the upper-body muscles in a coordinated and dynamic manner. By incorporating the arms, shoulders, and core in the pulling motion, the SkiErg provides a comprehensive workout that improves strength, stability, and endurance in these muscle groups.

The SkiErg's smooth and controlled movement minimizes joint stress, making it an ideal option for individuals seeking a low-impact alternative to traditional cardio exercises.

To build a strong upper-body endurance base, ski continuously for 20 to 30 minutes at a moderate intensity, maintaining a steady rhythm and focusing on engaging your arms, shoulders, and core throughout each stroke. Interval training offers a fun twist on cardio sessions. Alternate between 30 seconds of high-intensity skiing (aim for a fast pace and strong arm engagement) and 30 seconds of rest or easy skiing for a total of 10 to 15 rounds.

10 Functional Strength Exercises To Boost Mobility as You Age

Ellipticals are exceptionally accessible and versatile for low-impact workouts, making them ideal for building muscular endurance and providing alternatives to high-impact cardio exercises. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

These machines offer a smooth, gliding motion that mimics the natural movement of walking, jogging, or running without the impact on joints that comes with activities like running on pavement or jumping. This makes ellipticals suitable for individuals of all fitness levels and those with joint issues or injuries.

Additionally, ellipticals typically have adjustable resistance levels and incline settings, allowing users to tailor their workouts to their fitness goals and preferences.

Maintain a steady pace for 30 to 45 minutes at a moderate intensity. Focus on keeping your heart rate elevated while engaging your legs, arms, and core muscles throughout the workout. Alternate between high-intensity intervals and recovery periods. For example, sprint at maximum effort for one minute, followed by two minutes of easy-paced recovery. Repeat this cycle for a total of 20 to 30 minutes.

Yoga gives a whole different perspective on building endurance compared to cardio exercises. Yoga presents the unique benefits of improving mobility while improving isometric strength and conditioning for your muscles.

You'll move in and out of positions as you flow through various poses requiring mobility and flexibility, and if you've done yoga before, you already know how tough it is to hold static positions, requiring great amounts of isometric strength and endurance. Beyond improving endurance, I advocate for clients and athletes to use yoga as one of the best forms of active recovery to jumpstart the day!

Flow through your favorite yoga poses, holding each position for a few deep inhale and exhale breath cycles. Aim to accumulate 10 to 30 minutes of continuous, active movement.

10 Strength Training 'Rules' to Follow for the Best Results

Alternating lunges are a standout low-impact exercise renowned for their ability to cultivate strength and endurance in the lower body. Engaging muscles across the legs, hips, and glutes, lunges offer a solid workout option without subjecting joints to undue stress.

Their unilateral nature sets alternating lunges apart, which uniquely challenges stability and bolsters balance. As each leg independently supports the body's weight, it strengthens muscles and hones proprioception and coordinationkey elements of holistic fitness.

Perform three to four sets of 15 to 20 reps per side using only your body weight. To add variety, incorporate circuit intervals of alternating reverse lunges between 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest.

Bodyweight squats target the quads, hamstrings, and glutes, as they provide an effective workout without the need for equipment or added strain on the joints. By incorporating higher rep sets or intervals, bodyweight squats become a potent tool for building muscular endurance in these muscle groups.

Introducing variations such as pauses and tempo reps further amplifies the muscular endurance benefits, as these techniques challenge muscles to work harder and for longer durations. Moreover, they enhance mobility by promoting proper squat form and depth, contributing to overall flexibility and range of motion.

Complete three to four sets of 15 to 20 reps using only your body weight. To add variety, incorporate circuit intervals.

Pushups are a quintessential upper-body compound exercise renowned for their effectiveness in building muscular endurance, particularly in the triceps, shoulders, chest, and core. What makes them truly versatile is their adaptability to various fitness levels; they can be modified to accommodate beginners and seasoned athletes alike.

Introducing variations such as tempos and pauses further intensifies the endurance challenge, requiring muscles to work harder and for longer durations. To enhance endurance, aim for higher rep sets or incorporate pushups into circuit intervals, allowing for brief periods of rest between sets to maximize performance.

Perform three to four sets of 15 to 20 reps using only your body weight. To add variety, incorporate circuit intervals.

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10 Best Low-Impact Exercises To Build Endurance - Eat This, Not That

I'm bad at sleeping. Plagued with endless nighttime wakings (up to 10 a night) or suddenly jolting awake at 3 am and being unable to drift back off, its sadly been years since I've slept through the night. This has led to an obsession with monitoring my sleep profile using my fitness tracker and even more early awakenings as good quality sleep continues to evade me.

A new study by Hotpod Yoga found the average person gets less than six hours of sleep during the working week, while 69% agree that they would like more sleep and 76% want better quality sleep. Many people struggle to switch off at night or wake up in the early hours with a racing mind. Chronic stress and poor sleep can push us into a chronic state of hyperarousal; we get stuck in fight or flight mode," says Sleep Scientist, DrSophieBostock. The benefits of gentle exercise like yoga are not to be underestimated, however. Dr. Sophie explains: "Yoga combines physical movement, breathwork and meditation techniques which develop the skill of deep relaxation."

In aid of World Sleep Day, I put Hotpod Yoga's brand new Sleep Sessions class to the test before it's rolled out nationwide on March 31. But would it finally make me able to sleep through the night?

Us Brits are a nation of bad sleepers with 69 admitting we need more sleep

The first port of call should be checking your circadian rhythm isn't out of whack the body's internal 24-hour clock that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to light changes.

Routine is key, as Dr. Sophie says: "A lack of routine disrupts your body's ability to predict when you're going to sleep. If you go to bed at a similar time each night, like clockwork an hour and a half before your normal bedtime, the brain will start to produce melatonin, signalling to the rest of the body and the brain that it's time to prepare for sleep."

The second main culprit is not getting enough natural light during the day. Easy enough to say, but with our busy modern lifestyles and many of us working from home post-pandemic, even stretching your legs for 20 minutes at lunchtime can feel impossible.

Dr. Sophie says: "A lot of us don't spend enough time outside and we need clear, quite bright lights to reset our rhythms. If you're not actually moving to the office, for example, you're not sending that morning message to the brain, and you can be in a state where melatonin lags in the morning and you feel a bit sluggish, a bit sleepy. Hours later, the brain's not ready to sleep because it didn't know when daytime was in the first place."

I used to enjoy a pre-work morning power walk and reaped the benefits sleep-wise, but the winter months have seen me turning my alarm off and pulling the covers back over my head. I'll be heeding Dr. Sophie's advice in the future.

Yoga has amazing benfits for sleep as part of a wider sleep health routine

Diet should be your third port of call for improving sleep. After cutting back on drinking, I can safely say that alcohol isn't a factor in my poor sleep (in fact, the only time I sleep deeply is at the weekend after a couple of glasses of wine). Branding it a "hot topic" for future research, Dr. Sophie explained that diet can affect sleep, particularly if you're consuming high sugar, high-fat and low-fibre foods late at night.

RELATED: Is this bedtime habit ruining your sleep?

"Generally speaking, a Mediterranean-style diet of fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts and things which are going to feed that microbiome, seems to be better for sleep. Whereas ultra-processed foods are more likely to disrupt sleep," she advises.

You should rule out hormonal and blood sugar changes too; menopause and diabetes can be major factors if you're tossing and turning late at night, not to mention stress. "Cortisol and melatonin are like enemies for each other, so high levels of cortisol reduce or delay the impact of melatonin," she says.

I tried Hotpod Yoga's brand new Sleep Session class, which will be rolled out nationwide on March 31

Exercise is the final piece of the puzzle. As someone who enjoys spin classes, hot yoga and barre/Pilates workouts as well as gentle strength training from home, I would say that I'm well within the weekly recommended quota of movement. But could a gentler form of yoga really aid sleep?

DISCOVER: Orthosomnia is on the rise what are the symptoms and how do you cure it?

The benefits of yoga are well known for your mental health and physical health, but its effect on your snooziness shouldn't be underestimated. Dr. Sophie says: "Research shows that yoga helps people to gain awareness and a sense of control over their minds and bodies, and there is evidence that regular yoga practice can help to improve not just strength and flexibility, but also immune function, mental health, sleep quality and overall wellbeing."

Set to a balmier temperature than Hotpod's usual sweltering 37 degrees, the purple pod's calming, warm space helps you drift into a deep state of relaxation.

As a big Hotpod fan, I was intrigued to see how the class varied from my usual weekly sweat session, which always leaves me feeling relaxed and in a positive frame of mind. We began with some gentle stretching, before lying on our backs in a gentle backbend, focusing on calming the mind. The class finished with Yoga Nidra, during which our lovely teacher guided us through a visual meditation.

I've rarely been able to achieve such a level of zen in a room full of strangers

My mind began to wander, but with the addition of a lavender-scented eye mask blocking out the light and aiding deep relaxation and calming words, I actually found myself drifting off to sleep in the class. I've rarely been able to achieve such a level of total comfort in a room full of strangers.

It's all in the breathwork, apparently. "Learning to control your breath and the stress response [is important] as there have been studies looking at immune function because if you're not in a perpetual state of stress, then you start to switch all those restorative processes that have been downregulated by the stress response," she adds.

Confessing how surprised I was by how sleepy the gentle session made me, Dr. Sophie said the relaxing environment of the purple pod, dim lighting, and restorative music are key.

Sleep Session additions like using a towel as a pillow and a bolster cushion to support your back and knees add to the experience, not to mention the eye mask, helping ease you into a soporific state.

I'll be incorporating more Sleep Session classes into my routine going forward

"Your brain has to believe that you are safe and secure, and then therefore it's OK to relax," Dr. Sophie explains. "But if your brain has a history of other nights where you've sat there feeling tense, then it can be quite difficult to do that. By taking yourself to another space where you really feel safe, it will be easier to re-enter that state - it's reawakening that parasympathetic response saying it's perfect for sleep.

That night, I slept better than I had all week. While I sadly woke up at 5 am, wide awake and alert, I experienced fewer nighttime awakenings than usual and drifted off to sleep very quickly. My body felt safe enough to relax after my earlier class - and the benefits will only be greater the closer you practice to your bedtime. I can already see myself booking Sunday evening sessions as a pre-emptive stress buster ahead of a busy working week.

While the science can't yet prove that hot yoga can cure sleep problems, I'll be incorporating more Sleep Session classes into my routine and have left the experience buzzing with the idea of exploring more meditation practices in a bid to finally achieve the elusive ideal eight hours of slumber.

Visit HELLO!'s Happiness Hub for inspiration on living a more optimistic life.

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Can hot yoga really help you sleep? - HELLO!

Yoga could be an effective treatment for chronic lower back pain, according to new research.

A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research reports that individuals with low back pain saw improvements in pain levels after taking part in weekly yoga practice.

Each week participants completed a series of yoga asanas poses designed to move and stretch the body. Researchers also utilized electromyography, which measures electrical activity in muscles, to provide further evidence for their findings.

The main takeaway from this research is that there is a statistically significant difference in the improvement in pain for the females in the study with non-specific low back pain, Dr. Hanan Saleh, a spine medicine specialist with the Cleveland Clinic who wasnt affiliated with the study, told Medical News Today.

Experts say the research lends further evidence to the effectiveness of yoga as a treatment for low back pain.

Relieving back pain still remains a challenge. Asanas can become an addition to the range of possibilities in managing this disorder, Dr. Alessandro de Sire, an author of the study and a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Universit degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro in Italy, told Medical News Today.

De Sire and his team recruited 21 women, all of them between the ages of 18 and 40, to take part in the research.

Eleven of the women were healthy individuals while the other 10 reported having a condition known as nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), which is low back pain without an identifiable cause.

All participants took part in a four-week yoga program consisting of two sessions per week.

During the first week, the sessions were conducted in person while the remainder were conducted remotely using a tele-yoga approach.

Each session included 30 asanas in standing, seated, and supine positions. Researchers continued to follow up with participants for four additional weeks after the therapy.

The primary goal of the study was to see how the yoga practice affected pain levels. In order to track this, both groups did a pain assessment at baseline using the 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain.

If youve ever been to the doctors office and theyve asked you to point at a series of faces from smiling to crying to show how you feel, then youre familiar with the VAS system. Its a simple way for anyone to indicate their general pain level.

Women with NSLBP had an average pain level of 6.8 at baseline, indicating moderate to severe pain, but after the weekly yoga intervention that score decreased by more than half to 3.3, indicating low to moderate pain.

Researchers also used electromyography to verify their findings about pain.

By attaching electrodes to the lower back region of participants, they were able to measure electrical activity within the muscles of the lower back. Certain patterns of electrical activity in the region are known to be associated with low back pain.

Specifically, scientists looked at the flexion-relaxation phenomenon, which is a clinical tool to assess back pain. When someone bends forward, as if to touch their toes, this movement is known as trunk flexion.

During flexion, the muscles of the lower back are engaged. However, at a certain point in the flexion, the muscles actually begin to relax again.

How much the muscles are engaged or relaxed during this process can be measured through electromyography and given a numerical value. A higher score indicates better muscle relaxation while a lower one indicates more muscle tension. So, lower scores tend to be associated with the risk of low back pain.

In this study, women with back pain had a baseline flexion-relaxation score of 5.12. After the yoga sessions this number increased to 9.49, indicating improvements to muscle relaxation and electrical activity during flexion.

Although the study was small and relatively short, the authors say they are optimistic about their findings.

Using data forecasting technique known as prophet modeling, the team found that the yoga program would continue to provide benefit over a longer period of time, based on their four-week trial results.

Clearly, further studies are needed to delve into the long-term results of this asanas approach. However, the prophet model suggests that the results can be maintained, through a relatively simple, openly safe intervention, said de Sire.

Additionally, the research also raises the profile of so-called tele-yoga. Like other forms of telehealth that have become more prominent since the COVID-19 pandemic, tele-yoga also appears to provide benefits for people with NSLBP.

Yoga is an ancient practice that combines breathing, meditation, and physical poses known as asanas. Researchers have increasingly taken an interest in the practice to see how it affects the body and mind in a way that can be proven scientifically.

While there are plenty of personal, anecdotal reports of the benefits of yoga practice, here are some of the benefits of yoga backed by science:

In my clinical experience, yes, [yoga] has been helpful for patients. Of course, it doesnt help everyone, but I also havent seen it hurt anyone. Overall, it is a safe treatment option, and I always encourage my patients to pursue conservative treatment options as tolerated, said Saleh.

Generally speaking, some exercises that may be helpful can include the knee-to-chest exercise, piriformis and hamstring stretches, and my favorite core strengthening. The stronger our core, the more supported our spine is. Of course, not everyone should get the same set of exercises, which is why we focus heavily on physical therapy and personalize exercises based on the diagnosis, she said.

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Can yoga effectively treat lower back pain? - Medical News Today

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Strength and conditioning training is a crucial component of physical fitness and athletic performance. This type of training zeroes in on building strength, power, agility, and endurance through a wide array of exercises and techniques. It is widely used by athletes to enhance their performance and reduce the risk of injury. More than just for professionals, strength and conditioning training offers valuable benefits to individuals of all fitness levels. This article provides an in-depth exploration of these benefits and shares practical advice on incorporating strength and conditioning exercises into your workout routine.

Strength training offers a plethora of health benefits for both men and women. For men, personalized strength training programs focus on exercises that promote muscle development and toning. This leads to improved physical appearance, better posture, increased strength and endurance, and an overall sense of well-being. Moreover, such training can stimulate the formation of new bone tissue, helping prevent diseases like osteoporosis and keeping the skeletal system strong and healthy. As a bonus, strength training also positively impacts testosterone levels in men, contributing to an improvement in muscle mass, energy, and physical performance.

For women, strength training increases muscle mass and helps reduce body fat, leading to a slimmer, more toned silhouette. It can counter the risk of osteoporosis by improving bone density and strength, thus reducing the risk of fractures and improving overall bone health. Furthermore, by increasing muscle mass through strength training, women can boost their basal metabolic rate, burn more calories throughout the day, facilitate fat loss, and maintain a healthy weight.

Various studies have substantiated the benefits of strength training, showing that it improves bone density and quality in both men and women, reduces the risk of fractures, improves body composition, and leads to significant health improvements overall.

Strength training becomes even more important as we age. According to the National Institute on Aging, most adults start losing muscle mass around ages 30 to 35, leading to conditions such as sarcopenia. Strength training exercises focusing on using resistance or weights can help counter this, as well as increase bone strength and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. For people living with diabetes, strength training can help the body utilize insulin better. It is recommended to do some type of strength training exercise at least twice a week in addition to aerobic activities.

Personal training can significantly contribute to the success of a strength training regimen. It reduces the risks of atrophying muscles and bone loss, prevents injuries by teaching the correct way to exercise, keeps you motivated to workout, and tailors training sessions to individual needs. Personal training can enhance independence and overall wellness. For those seeking the advantages of a personal trainer without a large investment, AI-based applications like Traineer offer personalized workouts tailored to each users individual needs, with detailed instructions and effective progress tracking.

Joining a strength and conditioning gym can be pivotal for anyone serious about their health and fitness. These gyms specialize in improving athletic performance and overall fitness through varied workout regimes combining strength, agility, endurance, and flexibility training. They provide structured programs, expert guidance, and a community that motivates. Consistency, expert guidance, and the right environment are keys to unlocking fitness success.

Strength training should be a priority in your fitness regimen. Its benefits extend beyond just building muscles it improves overall health, prevents bone density loss, improves cardiovascular health, reduces body fat levels, and can even alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. As you start your strength training journey, remember the importance of learning correct techniques with the help of a professional, whether in person or via a digital platform. No matter your age or fitness level, its never too late to start reaping the benefits of strength and conditioning training.

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The Multifaceted Benefits of Strength Training | Importance of Strength and Conditioning Training - Medriva

The concept of toxic positivity has been gaining traction in recent times, casting a shadow over the idea of maintaining a positive mindset. Critics of toxic positivity argue that it encourages people to suppress or ignore their negative emotions, which can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. However, numerous studies and expert opinions have shown that optimism and positive thinking, when balanced with a healthy dose of reality, are linked to improved mental and physical health outcomes. This article aims to explore the benefits of positive thinking and provide guidance on how to harness its power while avoiding the pitfalls of toxic positivity.

Positive thinking does more than just make you feel good. It has a tangible impact on your mental and physical health, as well as your overall well-being. According to a LinkedIn article, maintaining a positive attitude can lead to reduced stress, enhanced immune function, and improved physical and mental health. It can even impact our longevity and act as a preventative measure against diseases.

But the benefits of positivity extend beyond our bodies. As per a Medium article, fostering a positive mindset can cultivate resilience, nurture positive relationships, and turn challenges into opportunities. It can shape a brighter and more fulfilling future, contributing to personal transformation and success.

So, how do we cultivate this positive mindset? There are several practical strategies that can be employed. Firstly, positive self-talk has been shown to have numerous health and wellness benefits. As Popsugar suggests, it can reduce worry, improve confidence, and even enhance physical performance. Techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy can help challenge negative core beliefs and reshape your mindset through affirmations and journaling.

Another recommendation is to practice gratitude. Recognizing and appreciating what we have can generate positivity and happiness. It reminds us of our blessings, shifts our focus from what we lack to what we possess, and ultimately contributes to a positive mindset.

While positivity is powerful, it is essential to recognize and avoid toxic positivity. This is when positivity is forced upon oneself or others, invalidating genuine emotions and experiences. It promotes the idea that any type of negative emotion is inherently bad, leading to the suppression of such emotions and causing more harm than good. A healthier approach is to accept that negative emotions are a natural part of life and to deal with them in a constructive way.

The key is to strike a balance between positive thinking and acknowledging negative emotions. It is about being optimistic, but also realistic. As highlighted in a Kathmandu Post article, while positive thinking plays a crucial role in mental health, it should be balanced with professional help and addressing negative emotions. A holistic approach to mental health that includes both positive thinking and dealing with negative emotions is the most beneficial.

In conclusion, positive thinking has immense potential in improving our mental and physical health and boosting our overall well-being. However, it is crucial to recognize the pitfalls of toxic positivity and to balance optimism with a healthy dose of reality. Embrace positivity, but remember its okay to not be okay sometimes.

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The Power of Positive Thinking: Exploring the Benefits and Practical Strategies - Medriva