It took a severe illness to bring me to my now heartfelt connection to yoga. While healing, I was fortunate enough to find an amazing teacher (thank you Mieke!). And during this time, I feel in love with the practice, not fully comprehending the healing benefits, just going with the flow of slowly feeling better and better.
Now research is shedding some light as to why!
In 2015, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, published a study that proves yoga's neuroprotective powers. It was found that a consistent yoga practice that combines both physical and meditative elements (breath!) protects the brain from age-related decline - in other words, less brain shrinkage! (Neuroprotective effects of yoga practice: age-, experience-, and frequency-dependent plasticity. Front Hum Neurosci. 2015; 9: 281)
Moreover, this neuroprotective effect of gray matter is concentrated in the left hemisphere of the brain, which is more associated with positive emotions (joy and happiness), parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous system activity and stress regulation. YES PLEASE!
How did the researchers determine that other forms of exercise are not doing the same thing? They compared two groups: one group of experienced yoga practitioners (performing integrated postures, breathing exercises and concentration/meditation) and a non-yoga group with similar fitness levels, sex, age, body mass index and general health.
Honestly, no surprise here, but I always appreciate learning the how and why.
Yoga gives us the chance to go inward; explore our balance in life while wobbling around in a balancing posture. Challenge ourselves in ways that we otherwise wouldn't. Exhale fully in a world where we often rush from one thing to the next. Exploring novel movements that reach places that normally go ignored. All awhile, finding a little more compassion and tenderness towards our details and what makes us uniquely one-of-a-kind.
It is my joy (reason behind For the Joy Yoga) to love on others and help them find this same connection and power of yoga in a vulnerable, accepting and personalized space.
Hoping to see you all soon! :) Next week we will be highlighting transitions, focusing on breath (of course) and playing with fallen triangle pose.
