Yoga is a combination of breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation. Yoga has been practiced for over 5,000 years to calm the nervous system and balance the body, mind and spirit, according to the "International Journal of Yogatherapy." There are a number of exercises and postures that yoga employs to energize the mind.
Superbrain Yoga
According to neurobiologist Eugenius Ang, Ph.D., writing in "AARP Magazine" (Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons), this exercise energizes the mind and boosts brain function by stimulating pressure points located on the earlobes.
Place your left hand on your right earlobe and your right hand on your left earlobe, keeping your thumbs on the front of the lobes and your second fingers behind the earlobes. Squeeze both earlobes at the same time with your fingers, keeping your left arm cushioned behind your right and close to your chest. While pressing the earlobes, simultaneously press your hips back and sink into a squat, keeping a straight back. Inhale through your nose on the way down and exhale through your mouth when you push up. Perform 10 to 12 squats.
Aum Pranayama
This exercise uses pranayama--breathing to energize the mind--to increase and channel energy throughout your body and mind. "Aum" is a sound that yoga practitioners use to break down the perception of being separated from the universe. Inhale deeply and, using a deep voice, make an "aum" sound as you exhale. Each time you take a deep breath in, try to increase the length of your "aums" as you exhale.
Ujjayi Stage 1
Ujjayi is a type of pranayama exercise that uses breathing to energize the mind, according to YogaPranayama.net. Take a soft breath in, allowing the air to fill your body with no resistance. Close your mouth as you exhale, making a "ha" sound. Keep the sound the same throughout your entire exhalation in order to make sure that air is leaving your lungs evenly. Your "ha" sound will become more even with continued practice. The sound will create a resistance in your breathing rate, creating a pressure that will keep your airways open. Use the muscles in your diaphragm to control the exhalation, but keep the exhalation soft so that it does not create pressure in your temples.
Downward-Facing Dog
This is the most well-known yoga exercise and can be used as a good starting place to stretch your entire body and energize your mind. According to "Yoga Journal," downward-facing dog will making you feel energized through deep breathing and stretching. Kneel on the floor and get onto your hands and knees, setting your knees beneath your hips and your hands just in front of your shoulders. Point your fingers and toes forward. Exhale slowly and lift your knees away from the floor, lengthening your body until it forms an upside down "V," with your butt as the middle, pointing up. Keep your knees as straight as possible without locking them, and your heels and finger tips pressed into the floor. Keep your head between your arms, but don't let it hang.
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