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Yoga Makes For A Healthy Brain
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Originally developed in India thousands of years ago, yoga has exploded in popularity throughout the world over the past few decades. But many people are still not quite sure what to make of it!
Yoga seems to fall somewhere between meditation and exercise. It strengthens the body, but also relaxes it. It has been popularized by celebrities and utilized by athletes to enhance the effectiveness of their normal training. But what about regular people who just want to improve their fitness or maintain good health as they get older?
Yoga may be perfect for them. According to the latest research, yoga not only builds muscle strength and flexibility, it also improves brain health as well. Here we’ll explain the full range of physical benefits yoga offers, as well as newfound evidence that yoga can protect against neurological conditions and improve your brain health!
While almost everyone has at least heard of yoga, it is necessary to offer a few words of what it is to cover the topic properly. “Yoga” is a term referring to a very broad range of physical, mental, and in some cases spiritual practices originally developed in Ancient India. There are forms of yoga in India related to religious practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Yoga was first introduced to the Western world in the late 19th century and became popular in the 1980s.
It is important to note that most forms of yoga practiced in the West are usually thought of as simply a form of exercise, and do not have any real religious connotation. However, certain styles may involve mediation or concepts which border on spiritual.
There are more than one hundred different varieties of yoga, but they all place a shared emphasis on breathing exercises, adopting certain postures or poses (sometimes called “asana”).
The benefits of yoga seem to be multifaceted — some are purely physical, others are metal and emotional, and often these benefits overlap.
On the physical level, practicing yoga has been linked to increased strength and flexibility, as well as improved recovery from injuries. It also can help with insomnia by supporting the brain in releasing serotonin. Yoga also lowers high blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease.
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