This year's theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is particularly exciting, as it combines two topics very close to my heart: mental health and movement.

Research shows that interventions, often subsumed under ‘alternative’ approaches, such as exercise and yoga, do not only improve physical but also mental health.

Yoga, strength training, and other forms of exercise, support my mental wellbeing tremendously.

We know that not all so-called 'evidence-based' treatments can help all people struggling with their mental health. I, myself, am anecdotal evidence. We need meaningful research to offer people more options for standalone and augmenting treatments.

Working as a data scientist and researcher during these technologically innovative times I can see so much potential for the development of data-informed, personalised treatments based on cutting-edge, original research. Targeting and adapting treatments to patients' individual needs, such as I did with my movement practices, promises to enhance treatment success.

My dream is that one day trajectories like mine can be prevented.

That is why I am teaching several free yoga classes during Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12 to May 19, 2024) in support of MQ Mental Health Research. Donations of any amount are welcome. If you don't want or can't donate, just come along for the yoga, I want this to be an accessible and non-judgmental space for *everybody* and *every body*.

The first date for a free Vinyasa Yoga class at the beautiful Vishuddha Yoga Centre in Oxford is on May 18, 2024, 10:45-11:45am. There will be an option to join the class live online. Book on the Vishuddha Yoga Website, www.vishuddhayoga.org/classes, or on the Mindbody app.

Watch out for more free yoga classes, which I will add soon.

About me:

- I have been and am a passionate data scientist, trial statistician, and researcher in psychology and mental health research at Oxford and Cambridge University

- I am a dedicated yoga teacher and enthusiastic personal trainer

- I advocate for mental health in holding several roles that involve lived experience as well as research experience in mental health research

- I am a proud ambassador for the international charity MQ Mental Health Research, https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/mq-ambassador-profilees-meet-esther-beierl-2/

- and I write about my research and lived experience with mental health on Substack, https://estherbeierl.substack.com.