Building Better Mental Health Dive Into Yoga!

By Wanda Jeanty, MD, MS

Your mental health is key to a joyful and fulfilling life. It encompasses your emotions, thoughts and actions, shaping how you manage stress, connect with others and make decisions. It’s about maintaining positivity, facing challenges, cultivating healthy relationships, and finding meaning in life.

By Babs Masiello

Christine Martitz’s yoga practice philosophy and ability are

“just about as good as it gets,” according to the late former EditorIn-Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine, Helen Gurley Brown, who was also a great admirer of Martitz. Martitz is a world renowned Hatha yoga instructor and creator of Dive Into Yoga with decades of experience teaching in New York City, the Hamptons and internationally. Step onto the mat as she takes us through her journey of becoming a yoga instructor, along with her sharing some simple wellness practices and her favorite spots to OM across the Hamptons.

Tell us a little about how you became a Hatha Yoga Instructor.

I’ve been practicing yoga since I was a child. My first yoga instructor was inspiring. She told us, while doing a headstand, about her latest travels to Tenerife, Canary Islands. As a kid, hearing stories like that is fascinating. To become a wellrounded teacher, I did my Yoga Teacher’s Training in a one month intensive at a Zen Monastery in Blois, in the Loire Valley in France. The days were long but worth it, awake at 5:30 a.m. and in bed at 11 p.m. I have also taken part in dozens of workshops, courses and seminars on all aspects of yoga.

Where are some of your favorite places to teach and why? Where else, specifically, do you like to teach?

I love teaching everywhere: Indonesia, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, NYC, the Hamptons - it is so rewarding teaching different people from all walks of life. I get so much out of it. I love to see how much people, who take my classes, improve when they practice regularly.

What are some simple Hatha Yoga poses that can be done at home for stress relief?

Hatha Yoga poses that can help relieve stress include Child’s Pose (Balasana), Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana/Bitilasana), Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) and Legs-up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani).

What are and how important is proper breathing in Hatha Yoga? Proper breathing is an essential aspect of Hatha Yoga and can help calm the mind, reduce stress and improve overall health. One effective breathing technique is Anuloma Viloma, which involves inhaling for 4 counts, holding for 12 counts and exhaling for 8 counts.

What are some of your favorite spots and things to do while summering out east?

I love the beaches, especially in Southampton. Little Plains is one of my favorite beaches and I enjoy doing yoga, running on the beach and swimming in the ocean. I also love biking and I sometimes bike all the way to Montauk from East Hampton. There are numerous events to attend such as: the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival along with Summer Concerts and the Farmer’s Market both at Agawam Park, in Southampton.

Bio: Christine Martitz is a certified yoga instructor for over 30 years. She practices and teaches yoga throughout Europe, Asia, South and North America as well as in the Hamptons during the summer. Living in NYC, she founded Dive Into Yoga, Inc. and created her own motivational yoga DVD, Dive Into Yoga, that was filmed by a 3x Emmy Award Winner. Martitz has also run three NYC Marathons and numerous half marathons as well as she’s also a certified scuba diver.

IG @DiveIntoYoga

On the other hand, mental illness refers to diagnosable medical conditions that affect your thoughts, emotions, behavior and overall functioning. It encompasses a wide range of conditions from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. These conditions can be distressing and impact your daily activities, work, relationships and self-care.

While mental health and mental illness are distinct, they are interconnected. Mental health exists on a spectrum, from optimal well-being to varying levels of distress and impairment. Mental illnesses can challenge our mental health, bringing changes in mood, behavior and functioning. Having a mental illness doesn’t mean you can’t have good mental health. Recovery and management are possible through appropriate treatment and support. Recognizing the difference between the two is crucial. Knowing the signs and symptoms of mental illness helps identify when professional help is needed. Prioritizing mental health involves practicing self-care, seeking support from loved ones and engaging in activities that nurture well-being. We must reduce the stigma and encourage open conversations while creating a supportive environment for those who may be struggling.

By understanding this distinction, we can cultivate self-awareness, support those in need and strive for a positive and balanced mental state. Promoting mental health and addressing mental illness are vital steps towards society valuing the well-being of all its members. Let’s embrace, uplift and build a brighter future together.

With this understanding, we become architects of self-awareness, and guardians of a positive, harmonious mental state. Let’s unite in this journey and paint a future full of brightness and hope.

Dr. Jeanty is a public and mental health consultant with more than 10 years’ experience in healthcare. She earned her medical degree from Spartan Health Sciences University in St. Lucia and holds a Master of Science in International Health from New York Medical College.

Email: wandajeanty@gmail.com