Today is World Mental Health Day. I'm not sure it's right to say 'Happy Mental Health Day', but I do think raising awareness is important. Every day it becomes more acceptable to talk about mental health. More importantly, it's becoming more acceptable to talk about being personally affected by mental health challenges. And every day science is catching up with what yoga has always taught us - that our bodies and minds are one and the same. Some of the most effective treatments for mental health challenges are physical ones - exercise, eating well, sleeping well. We can get to the mind through the body. We can get to the mind through the breath.

Yoga certainly supports my mental as well as my physical health. I have found huge comfort in my practice at difficult times. I have found solace in the worldwide community of yogis. But is is far from being a panacea. My daughter lives with ADHD. I've lost count of the times someone has asked if we've tried yoga or meditation. Yes, we've tried yoga - we tried everything long before turning up in the doctor's office. So I am well aware that yoga is not the solution to complex, challenging mental illness. But yoga can be part of a holistic care plan that supports people to live well with whatever health concerns they are dealing with.