Science confirms meditation is good for brain health

B.K.S Iyengar described asana (yoga postures), as a "meditation in action". Meditation is any practice that allows you to be present and stop the process of thinking, which can take many forms and disciplines.
 Iyengar yoga with it’s specificity of alignment and focus on conscious and intentional action provides the mind with a focal point in order to bring you and your mind into absorption in the present moment. 

Science has proved how meditation changes our brain health and studies have shown that after 20 minute periods of meditation of there is more activity in our left frontal brain, the part of the brain responsible for feelings of well being, stable emotions and harmonious feelings. Also, after 7 weeks of  daily practice the brain shows constant positive changes including the shrinking of the amygdala, the area of the brain which is responsible for pain and fear response. Ancient yogis have always known that the mental health, emotional health and physical health are all connected and it really is very exciting that scientific research confirms  this.

​Yoga can be a transformative practice  bringing a  greater sense of peace and connection to the present moment and leaving you with a good inner feeling at the end of a practice. Combine this with a regular pranayama (breath control practice) and you can significantly change your DNA, molecular health and the way you function and deal with the world! Now that really is rather cool! 

In class all of this week we have been working with this idea of mental calmness. We worked with asanas that helped to balance the nervous system whilst withdrawing the sense organs thus calming the brain. We did this with the combination of asana and pranayama.  A couple of the students mentioned how their yoga class is the highlight of their week, which of course would be because it helped to develop that sense of deep inner peace and increased left frontal lobe function! 

Have a wonderful, happy and peaceful May day weekend:)