Yoga combines physical postures, rhythmic breathing, and meditative and mindfulness practices that offer a unique holistic mind-body experience.
According to Dr. John Denninger, Director of Research at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, “we are under levels of chronic stress, probably, never before experienced by humans, and history”. Chronic stress causes wear-and-tear on the body which increases the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric disorders (depression/anxiety), high blood glucose levels, chronic respiratory disease and arthritis, to name a few.
A great number of studies have demonstrated that contemplative techniques like yoga and meditation have been successfully applied in the treatment of psychological disorders, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, whether as complementary or as the main intervention. Yoga, meditation and mindfulness regulate the stress response by balancing the sympathetic nervous system "fight-or-flight", and the parasympathetic nervous system “rest & digest”.
In a Yoga Alliance workshop Indu Arora, an Ayurveda and Yoga Therapist, informs us how yoga, meditation, and consequently, the relaxation response is able to counteract the toxic effects of chronic stress. Her advice on which practice is best is “keep it simple and pleasant”.
According to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, both the mental and physical aspects of yoga aid healthy digestion in numerous ways. The parasympathetic nervous system enables digestive function, decreases heart rate, and slows breathing. Promoting mindful eating by intuitively eating when hungry and stopping when full is a great approach. This can help prevent overeating or undereating, which can cause digestive health problems.
Yoga postures stimulate our organs by compressing and/or massaging them. This increases blood flow to the organs, and ultimately leads to improved function.
The Canadian Chiropractic Association have cited a number of studies on the link between yoga and its effects on low back pain and chronic pain. In each study, there were benefits observed both in the short-term and long-term to varying degrees. The bottom line was that an element of active care, which can include yoga, can improve outcomes when you’re suffering from pain.
In conclusion, Yoga has many benefits and can help improve your overall health. There are now thousands of studies available to expand on each subject.
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Disclaimer** The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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