Maxene Magalona explains how yoga helps her deal with her mental health condition
Maxene Magalona discussed the benefits of yoga for her mental health in an Instagram post.
Recently, Maxene revealed that she is experiencing a mental health condition called Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or C-PTSD.
Maxene Magalona opens up about dealing with complex PTSD
Maxene started her post by clarifying that she used to do yoga for weight loss, but now she's doing it for healing and releasing trauma.
"Some people think that I only practice yoga for physical purposes and while it is true that I started doing it 3 years ago to lose weight and tone my body, I do it now for more important reasons --one of which is healing and releasing my past traumas."
She also narrated the symptoms of trauma survivors.
"I didn't know this back then but evidently, yoga is very beneficial for people with mental health conditions especially those who are trauma survivors.
"Some symptoms of people like me who deal with the mental health condition known as Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) include feelings of shame or guilt, problems controlling emotions, physical ailments like chest pains and migraines, relationship difficulties and dissociation.
"Repeated trauma can leave the victim feeling helpless and lost, often detached from reality and disconnected from themselves and their own bodies."
Maxene said that her physical appearance is not her priority anymore.
"Thanks to yoga, I was able to inhabit my body and develop a healthy relationship with it. By focusing on my deep breathing during my yoga practice, I get to notice the different sensations and emotions that arise in my body. I began to understand the relationship of my emotions with my body and how I could regulate them."
The actress, who is currently in quarantine in Bali, said that yoga helped her pay attention to her body and soul.
"Yoga helped me tune inwards, look within and pay attention to what my body and soul have been trying to communicate with me all this time. For years, I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror but now, thanks to my practice, I've learned to accept and truly love everything about myself --including the parts that I used to deny."
Maxene concluded her post by stating that she considers yoga as a gift from above.
"This is why I know that yoga is a gift from above as it is a sacred practice that can truly help us heal which is why every time I do yoga, raise my arms up and look to the sky,
"I silently thank God for breathing life into me and for giving me a renewed sense of purpose and hope. #yogaforhealing #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthawarenessweek"