Yoga and Memory… See Why it Works!
People who practice yoga regularly get lots of benefits. They can enjoy better balance, stronger leaner bodies, but did you know yoga for memory is one of these benefits. Research suggests that yoga improves parts of the brain that helps to control memory function. In addition the practise helps to improve mood, increases our overall health all of which result in living a more fulfilling life. Below are some of the benefits people of all ages can gain from practising yoga on a regular basis.
Benefits of Yoga Including Brain Health and Memory
Yoga benefits extend beyond older adults’ brain function. It’s proven to also have a positive effect on overall health such as:
- Improves flexibility
- Builds muscle strength
- Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown
- Boosts immune system functionality
- Protects the spine
- Increases blood flow, raises the heart rate and reduces blood pressure
- Improves mood and increases energy
Memory and Yoga Studies
In addition to the above health benefits, researchers observed that over a 12 week period female adults showed that those who did yoga regularly had improved positive change on standard memory tests compared to those who did done partake in yoga.
Plus brain scans supported the news of the improvement in the memory tests. As we age most people will have cognitive impairment typically due to a reduction or thinning or volume in an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. This area plays a key role in attention and memory.
Where as participants who practised yoga over a 12 week period showed a thicker prefrontal cortex. And while the study was fairly small – (based on the brain scans of less than 50 women) it shows evidence that yoga provides many benefits, with yoga and memory being one such benefit.
Why Does Yoga Work for Brain and Memory Health
Probably the largest factor is that yoga reduces stress. It increases blood and oxygen flow, and produces endorphins which are the feel good hormones. So overtime yoga benefits the brain by easing day-to-day stress and can improve brain health. Which is a benefit we want especially as we age.
Boosting Brain Health With Yoga
Another study included adults aged 55 and above with mild cognitive impairment and assigned them to two groups for 24 weeks: some participated in memory training and others took kundalini yoga classes. The kundalini style of yoga is known for deep meditation and transformation.
Both groups saw improvement with their memory, but the yoga group saw a boost in ability to complete daily activities, reduced symptoms of depression and better emotional resilience.
Meditation, Yoga and Aging
Two of the pillars of yoga are mindfulness and meditation. Studies have shown that the brain structure changes after meditation, resulting in improved awareness, attention and self-related thinking. The volume of the areas of the brain that govern these functions has been shown to increase, and along with all these benefits, memory is also shown to improve.
Brain scans of yoga participants routinely detect more gray matter than in those of people who don’t practice yoga, and the good news is that the more you do, the greater the benefit. All of the areas of the brain that are engaged by practicing yoga – the somatosensory, prefrontal, superior parietal and the visual cortex as well as the hippocampus – show volume increases.
Getting Started With Yoga for Memory
Taking the first step might seem daunting to someone who has never practiced yoga before. But the beautiful thing is that yoga is not a race, but it is a process that allows individuals to pursue it at their own pace.
And one of its fundamental principles is that yoga poses should simple, comfortable and relaxing. Yoga has many levels, start at your own pace and progress as you wish. The key is that you begin, and you can get started with yoga for memory and better overall health today!