It turns out that the benefits of practicing yoga may reach much farther than physical fitness, weight loss and increased flexibility. In fact, new research is suggesting that those who do yoga regularly are reaping important benefits for their brains as well.
Less Stress = Greater Happiness
For many people, practicing yoga provides a welcomed chance to step away from their busy, hectic lives and gain some necessary quiet and deepened perspective. The great news is that yoga’s ability to decrease stress and lower anxiety is actually supported by science. In a study at the University of California, Los Angeles, participants who did yoga for just 12 minutes a day for 8 weeks showed a lowered response in their immune systems’ inflammation. This physical response, which happens when the body is overstressed, is a main contributor to many stress-related chronic diseases. The world-renowned Mayo Clinic is one of the many institutions which encourage yoga as a way to battle stress.
When we can pull our minds out of a state of stress and be present, we open the doors to increased happiness. Research has shown that the simple act of living in the moment improves mood and boosts levels of reported contentment. Yoga helps participants stay present by combining physical and mental exercises which encourage reflection and inner peace during class and in the world outside.
Yoga Helps Manage Bipolar Disorder
New research published in The Journal of Psychiatric Practice suggests that regular yoga may help people manage bipolar disorder. A group of 100 was surveyed and asked to rate the influence of yoga practice on their lives and their ability to cope with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Participants commonly responded that yoga provided positive emotional effects and reduced anxiety, while 1 in 5 called their experience with yoga “life-changing.”
Yoga Boosts Brainpower
According to a study conducted at the University of Illinois, doing as little as 20 minutes of yoga helps increase brain function, improve focus and boost information retention. If you find yourself drinking coffee or eating sugary snacks in order to focus at work, doing a simple yoga routine every morning may be a much healthier option for your body and brain.
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