What Happens To Your Brain And Body When You Do Yoga Regularly

Yoga hails from ancient India but the appeal of yoga is universal and timeless. Its combination of physical postures, breathing practices, relaxation, mediation, and lifestyle guidance is a tried-and-tested practical method of achieving all-round good health. Yoga does not seek to offer a quick fix, but provides a long-term programme for living positively and mindfully.

Before you grab a mat, here's what yoga really does to your body and brain. Yoga comes in many different styles but generally it involves some amount of stretching and meditation.

Take back pain for instance. An estimated 50% of people will suffer back pain at some point in their lives but one study found that after six to twelve yoga sessions participants reported significantly less pain in their lower back. That's because certain yoga poses stretch out your hamstrings which, when they are too tight, can pull on your hip flexors and strain your lower back but the more you practice yoga the more flexible your hamstrings get. For example, if you practice hatha yoga which involves positions like Downward Dog and Triangle Pose, for 60 to 90 minutes each week for sixteen weeks straight and by the last week you will be able to reach 4 cm closer to your toes than before, thanks to those loose hamstrings!

Yogis are also constantly twisting into intricate poses, holding them as they breathe deeply, and counter-twisting many of them. Why? Because twisting poses have amazing effects on the physical body and even on the mental and emotional ones.

First of all, they are highly detoxifying in nature. B.K.S. Iyengar refers to it as the "squeeze and soak" action. When we twist, the organs of detoxification in the abdominal region get a good massage. The organs in the digestive system temporarily get their blood supply cut off when we twist into the pose, and then receive a fresh source of blood when we come out of the twist. The cells detoxify and waste moves out of the system.

Twisting poses also help us detox because they aid in healthy digestion. We compress the digestive organs when we're deep into a twist, which in turn cuts off the circulation. Then, in the release of the twist, new blood flows into the digestive organs filling them with fresh nutrients and fresh oxygen. All this supports the healthy function of digestive organs.

Twists give us a mental and emotional detox because they release stress and anxiety. Stored bodily tension is let go of and the mind begins to quiet. Practicing a 16-count breath (inhaling for four counts, holding for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and pausing for four counts) can help de-stress the body even further as we settle into the twisting postures.

There's a good reason why twists feel so good. They energise us while also bringing us into a state of calm. They help move impurities out of the system while also supporting spinal and back health. Practice reclining, seated and standing twists every day to keep your body/mind detoxified and energised.

Now if you are also meditating during those yoga sessions, the flexibility might not be the only benefit. After seven to sixteen weeks of meditative activities participants in one study (in America) saw a huge drop in in C-Reactive Proteins in their blood. Proteins are linked to inflammation, which when you are overly stressed could kick in to overdrive, and over time, that inflammation may contribute to serious illnesses like cardiovascular diseases and cancer. That's where yoga's meditative qualities can help. Researchers believe that yoga may help reduce stress by interfering with the central nervous system's ability to release stress hormones plus meditation focused type yoga asana boost levels of feel good hormones like oxytocin in the brain. Plus, yoga is an exercise and exercise in itself is a stress reliever. It is recommended to exercise for about 2.5 to 5 hours of light to moderate

exercise per week doing yoga, walking or swimming. Any amount of regular exercise can reduce anxiety, elevate mood, improve sleep and self-esteem.

So while yoga might have an edge in the flexibility and mindfulness department, as long as it gets you moving, why not give it a try?