CPD08 Food-Mood Yoga and Meditation Therapy (Online)

The gut microbiota and the brain are constantly talking to each other. So, the health of the gut can have direct effects on the brain and our mood. For example, the gut is involved in the production of serotonin, an important brain chemical that affects our mood. And the gut microbiota of babies’ is involved in their brain development. So, it’s important to get it right even at the start of life.

Professor Felice Jacka

We invite you to become part of this pioneering work in the field of yoga therapy, looking at the food and mood connection. This evidenced informed course will help you to understand the link between food and mood, microbiome and gut health through the lens of Yoga, Ayurveda, Meditation, as well as a biopsychosocial model of well-being.

Part of this notable work includes an emerging awareness that we must take care of our microbiota. Our microbiota (our ‘gut-bugs’) is the community of microorganisms that live in the gut and play a critical role in our metabolism, body weight, glucose regulation, our immune function, as well as our skull-based (the physical brain) and embodied brain (the mind as it exists in the nervous system) health.

Extensive research has shown that there is a super information highway that connects the biota and the brain, namely the vagus nerve; with improved vagal tone we have the capacity to positively affect the entirety of the nervous system and the necessary neuroplastic changes for improving mental health and overall well-being, thus creating optimal states for the health of our brains as well as creating optimal states of health for our gut-bugs.  Yoga Therapy, meditation practices, and dietetics all assist in achieving this optimal state of gut-bug health by offering practices that enlighten us with the choices required for diets rich in whole foods – eating a wide variety of organic foods; knowledge and mindfulness of the use of antibiotics – not only medicinally but also in the food chain; plus when we combine these choices with yoga and meditation practices we holistically create a positive feedback loop supporting the role of the microbiota and thus influence our overall brain health and enhanced resilience.

“All the research is now saying that depression and anxiety can lead to gut problems, and then gut problems can then also lead to depression and anxiety. So, there is that clear bi-directional relationship that makes sense when we think about the strong gut-brain axis.”

Professor Felice Jacka

The course will be both evidenced informed and evidenced based and incorporate traditional and modern yogic approaches to diet and eating, compassion focussed therapy for body image and mental health, as well as mindfulness and meditation practices for overall health and lifestyle changes.