Science of Yoga Six Powerful Inspirations

Science of yoga is not just about philosophy. It is all about how yoga can change your health and mental well-being, which is measurable, observable and quantifiable. Yoga is a systematic way to attain perfection, through physical and mental exercises.

Yoga has been noted to reduce anxiety and depression.  Scientific studies have also shown that yoga can improve several conditions including psychological and pain syndromes, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders and autoimmune and immune syndromes.

Volumes have been written on the healing properties of yoga. Although very little research has been conducted on potential underlying mechanisms for the effects of yoga, it appears yoga stimulates pressure receptors under the skin which, in turn, leads to enhanced vagal activity and reduced cortisol.

Scientist observed that yoga exercises gives superior parietal cortex, involved in directing attention, and the visual cortex.

1. Yoga Improves Immunity Function

There are numerous scientific studies that show that yoga improves immune functioning. Yoga, perhaps, is one of the most effective and time-tested natural immunity boosters that we can adopt for a healthier life. It is an ancient art that strengthens the body and also relaxes the mind.

“Yoga means addition – addition of energy, strength and beauty to body, mind and soul” — Amit Ray

2. Yoga Cures Addiction

Dopamine, a chemical in the brain that gives one contentment during a high on ones drug of choice is generated naturally by doing yoga. Thus, the craving for that level of contentment from addiction is no longer manifested. Yoga can give one the same level of dopamine high or contentment, thus cutting out the craving of addiction.

Yoga actually activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms us down and restores balance after a major stress is over. When the parasympathetic nervous system switches on, blood is directed toward endocrine glands, digestive organs, and other organs, thus reducing the heartbeat rate and lowering the blood pressure.

4. Anxiety Reduction

Several studies have focused on anxiety, and several studies on various conditions have used anxiety as a measure of the condition improving. It is observed that who participated in the yoga training showed decreased stress, anxiety, fatigue and depression as well as increased well-being and vigor.

 

5.   Yoga Heals Chronic Insomnia

Reduced sleep problems following yoga may mediate decreased depression. In a chronic insomnia sample, yoga led to improvements on virtually every sleep measure including sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep onset latency, number of awakenings and sleep quality measures based on sleep-wake diaries.

Yoga also reduced sleep disturbances in a geriatric sample after 6 months of yoga practice. The Yoga group versus the standard control group had a significantly shorter latency to sleep as well as a significant increase in the total number of sleep hours and in the feeling of being rested in the morning. Increasing deep sleep (restorative, quiet sleep) may reduce pain syndromes via a reduction in, for example, substance P that causes pain. In  the  Field study,  when quiet sleep increased, based on activity watch monitors, both substance P (measured in saliva) and pain decreased. Similar measures might provide more confirmatory data for the sleep-enhancing and pain-reducing effects of yoga.

“Yoga is the art work of awareness on the canvas of body, mind, and soul.” – Amit Ray

6. Reduction of  Lower back pain

In a study yoga participants attended weekly yoga sessions for 16 weeks. The control group was given education on low back pain for the same time period. Results revealed reduced pain intensity (by 64%), functional disability (77%) and pain medication usage (88%) in the yoga group.

 

The physiological effects of yoga including decreased heart rate and blood pressure and the physical effects including weight loss and increased muscle strength are the common benefits of yoga.  Yoga enhance vagal activity and reduce cortisol. The reduction in cortisol, in turn, may contribute to positive effects such as enhanced immune function and overall well-being.