Yoga is a practice that has been around for thousands of years, and its benefits are well-known to those who practice regularly. However, it is only in recent years that science has started to catch up with the ancient wisdom of yoga. Brain science, in particular, has shed light on how yoga can positively impact our brain and nervous system, leading to a range of benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional health.
The discovery of neurogenesis has opened up new avenues of research into the potential benefits of activities that promote neurogenesis, such as exercise and meditation. Yoga asana is another activity that has been shown to promote neurogenesis. Studies have shown that practicing yoga can increase the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a protein that plays a key role in promoting the growth and survival of new neurons. BDNF is particularly important for neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning.
In addition to promoting neurogenesis, yoga has also been shown to have a range of other benefits for the brain. For example, yoga has been shown to increase gray matter volume in the brain, particularly in regions associated with attention, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. Gray matter is the part of the brain that contains the cell bodies of neurons, and an increase in gray matter volume is generally seen as a positive sign of brain health.
Yoga has also been shown to improve cognitive function, particularly in areas such as attention and working memory. One study found that just 20 minutes of yoga practice can lead to an improvement in cognitive function, as measured by tasks such as reaction time and accuracy on a visual-motor task.
