KURTIS MORRISH
Opinions on yoga are about as diverse and interesting as the
multitude of creative poses (or asanas) that comprise the practice itself. Some
people write yoga off as a bunch of goofy contortions guaranteed to embarrass
you in front of the opposite sex, and possibly rip your pants open from
stretching too far. But, the majority of educated opinions on the topic
agree that yoga possesses both real and significant physiological,
psychological, biochemical, and spiritual benefits to those who engage in the
practice.
Although it is tough to study precise, objective indicators
of just how good yoga is for you, there is a plethora of scientific research
taking place to figure out the many ways that yoga can enhance your quality of
life. There are certain obvious benefits to the practice of yoga that can be
observed at the surface level: increased flexibility, core strength, muscle
toning, etc. But there are also many deeper benefits associated with the practice
of yoga that are often overlooked or that are simply unknown to the general
public.
The very act of bending, folding, and stretching one’s body
has a wonderful massage affect on the internal organs, which subsequently
translates to increased functionality and regularity in many of our vital
organs, including regulating our digestive systems and cardiovascular
activities. Breath control, which is a pivotal aspect of any yoga practice,
forms the base for meditation, concentration, and relaxation, all of which are
integral elements of doing yoga. Resulting effects on the respiratory and
circulatory systems of the body, including: decreased heart rate and blood
pressure, increased lung capacity and ability to hold one’s breath, and
increased physical endurance levels. It has also been reported that people who
practice yoga on a regular basis have demonstrated increases in immune system
performance and endocrine function.
From a biochemical perspective, yoga has been found to have
detectable, positive effects on many key constituents of our bodies. Some
examples of this include: lowering blood sugar and sodium, lowering LDL
cholesterol (the kind of cholesterol you don’t want too much of), increasing
HDL cholesterol (the kind of cholesterol you DO want more of), decreasing
triglycerides, increasing hemoglobin, white blood cells, and much, much more.
Certain aspects of the many challenging asanas can also help
to improve hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity, reaction time, energy
levels, and depth perception.
Yoga entails the linking of body and mind, control of your
thoughts, your body, and most importantly, your breath, all of which can
encourage habits of mind capable of noticeable increases in mood and ability to
concentrate as well as memory retention and mental energy. Routine yoga has
even been recommended for woman who are currently going through menopause as it
has been found to have regulatory effects on many hormones, leading to
decreases in hot flashes, mood swings, and other symptoms associated with
menopause.
The Sanskrit word for health is swAsthyam, which is composed
of the words for ‘me’ and the word for ‘established’, so health just means
being established in oneself. Bearing this in mind, when was the last time you
felt like your mind and body were properly grounded in one-another? Health is
and will always be a very relative state of being, as one’s health is generally
tracked in comparison to the greater population, but is most importantly
measured by it’s variation within one individual. It is changes in your own
personal health that make you go see a doctor, and yoga has been found to
regulate the degree of such changes, leaving you with a far more balanced and
stable state of life.
But before everyone rushes out to their local, warm,
hard-wooded yoga studio, it is important to remember that yoga is a practice; a
continually engaging and growing experience that requires both patience and
dedication for best results. You can get hurt doing yoga, so be careful when
starting out. Make sure to get to class early and check in with yourself, see
what injuries or ailments might restrict your practice that day, and also be
honest with yourself in terms of how far you want to push your body on any
given day. And don't forget to drink lots of water after practice to rehydrate yourself! A yoga studio isn’t like the gym where people are out to see who’s
there to be seen, or which guy can do the heaviest bicep curls... Yoga is about
the self. It is about focus, control, and self-empowerment. It is about you.
So get a yoga mat, get out to your local yoga studio, and
get sweaty!
There’s a new life (and body) awaiting you on the other side
of that first yoga practice, and I will even go so far as to promise that
first-timers will walk out of their first yoga class with a new outlook on
their body and their approach to exercise. To the veterans of the practice,
keep doing what you are doing, you know its good for you because you can feel
it, and your body thanks you every time you pretzel it up in lotus pose, or
stretch it into bridge... Keep up the good work!
Here are some more in-depth looks at the benefits of yoga:
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp
http://www.medindia.net/yoga-lifestyle/yoga-Physiological.htm#.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/the-health-benefits-of-yoga?page=3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23462342
Medical Section Columnist, Kurtis Morrish:
My name is Kurtis Morrish. I graduated from Cal last year as an Integrative Biology major. I am now in the process of applying to medical school in the hopes of one day serving people as a family doctor. By no means do I write to you as an M.D., but I have extensive experience doing all kinds of scientific research; boiling-down long, dry, mumbo-jumbo-dense medical journals into a reduction that is a little sweeter, useful, and hopefully informative for you. I hope to learn as much from my writing as you do, so please hit me up with further questions, concerns, or comments!
