Boost your brain with yoga
Most of us are familiar with how yoga can improve your strength, balance, and flexibility, but yoga is not just a physical practice to help keep you fit and flexible. Yoga has tremendous neurological benefits that can help those living with chronic pain, acquired brain injury, and progressive conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
Yoga can increase your brain power
Aerobic exercise, such a a moderate and fast paced vinyasa, power, or hot yoga class, has incredible power to change your brain! It is well established that a good cardio workout increases levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. This is a protein that helps your brain be more plastic, or more capable of learning new things and making new neurological connections. Performing cardiovascular exercise before working on cognitive exercises or trying to learn a new skills is a great way to boost your performance.
According to a recent study from the University of Illinois, more gentle yoga practices such as Hatha can improve your attention and information retention. So if you’re having trouble focusing at home or work, try a quick sun salutation!
It can decrease stress and systemic inflammation
There are several recent studies showing that participation in a yoga program can actually reduce the physical effects of stress including systemic levels of inflammation in the body. Researchers found that participants had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, reduced pro-inflammatory markers, and increased levels of protective anti-inflammatory markers.
This can be especially beneficial for individuals dealing with conditions impacted by inflammatory responses, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.
Yoga is for every body
The beautiful thing about yoga is that there are methods and adaptations to suit everyone, no matter their current health condition. It can be slow and soothing, invigorating and physical, or anywhere in between. The mindfulness practices of breath work, self acceptance, and meditation can provide a wonderful reprieve from our hectic lives.
Interested in learning more about how yoga could benefit you or how a yoga practice could be adapted to your current health condition? Click below to get started.