Yoga is well-known for its psychological and physical benefits. People who begin practicing yoga often notice immediate mental results, such as reduced stress and worry, a broader perspective, and a feeling of calm and relaxation, in addition to the physical rewards of decreased muscular tension and pain. Yoga's impact on your brain may be responsible for many of its beneficial effects.
Boosts Mood
Yoga can help to improve your mood, whether you're feeling sad and blue or tense and anxious. According to a 2010 study by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, yoga has been proven to have a beneficial effect on your mood. The researchers found that practicing yoga regularly increases the amount of γ-Aminobutyric acid, also known as GABA, in your brain. GABA is directly correlated with lowered levels of depression and anxiety, and an elevated mood level.
Stress Relief
The practice of yoga is widely recognized for its stress-relieving, tension-reducing and relaxation-inducing benefits. Not only does yoga help to lower blood pressure and promote relaxation through focusing on the connection between the mind and body, it also increases levels of stress-relieving neurotransmitters known as serotonin and dopamine in your brain. Regular yoga sessions can also lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according to nutritional anthropologist Linda Knittel in an article for "Yoga Journal." Due to its stress-relieving effects on the brain, yoga can also help you to get a better night's sleep if you suffer from stress-related insomnia.
Develops Executive Control
Yoga and yogic meditation help in the development of executive control, which is the term used to describe the brain functions you use to regulate your emotions and behavior. According to psychotherapists and meditation experts Annellen M. Simpkins and C. Alexander Simpkins in their book, "Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy: Techniques for Clinical Practice," yoga and yogic meditation increase the executive functions in the frontal lobe of your brain. Executive functions include techniques such as focusing, sustaining, inhibiting and balancing.
Yogic Breathing Effects
Yogic breathing, or pranayama, is the technique of breath control used in the practice of yoga. According to Simpkins and Simpkins, yogic breathing has beneficial effects on your brain stem, endocrine system and cortex. Pranayama results in decreased oxygen consumption, lowered heart rate and reduced blood pressure. It also results in an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity, resulting in a heightened sense of awareness and a sense of invigoration.
References
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Effects of Yoga Versus Walking on Mood, Anxiety and Brain GABA Levels; C.C. Streeter et al.; November 2010
- "Yoga Journal"; Beginner's Bliss; Linda Knittel
- "Meditation and Yoga in Psychotherapy: Techniques for Clinical Practice"; Annellen M. Simpkins and C. Alexander Simpkins; 2010
