Understanding Migraine (Part I) – Root Cause and Triggers
Modern medical science has no cure for migraine. Yoga therapy directly manages the root cause – an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system.
Neurotransmitters and Diseases – Neuroscience Perspective
There are approximately 80 billion neurons in the human nervous system interconnected through trillions of synapses. These neurons communicate with one another, and with muscle cells and gland cells, by releasing chemical messengers called “Neurotransmitters”. These neurotransmitters are involved in countless functions of the nervous system and in controlling bodily functions. They play a major role in the functioning of the body in everyday life. There are also other chemicals in the body called “Hormones” that are produced by the…
Understanding Central Nervous System – Brain and Spinal Cord
The nervous system is the main controlling system of the body. It helps us experience the external world. The main purpose of Yoga is to cleanse the consciousness. This requires controlling the mind, which is considered a seat of consciousness. The mind involves the higher-level functions of the nervous system – memory, cognition, and intelligence. The nervous system is most influenced by Yoga and hence needs to be understood well. The nervous system is divided in two components – both…
Yoga Therapy for Insomnia – Based on Neuroscience Understanding
This is the next post in the series on sleep disorders. So far, we covered the importance of sleep, neuroscience brain waves, sleep stages, healthy sleep habits, and types and causes of Insomnia. In this post let’s see how Yoga (Yogasana and Pranayama) can be used as a therapy for insomnia. Please note that this information is not a health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified medical professional or qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about…
Simple Habits for Relaxing and Rejuvenating Sleep – Neuroscience Yoga
Good quality sleep is vital to the health of the body and mind. Long term sleep deficiency or irregular sleep is known to carry significant health risks. So far, in a series of three posts related to sleep, we covered the importance of sleep, the brain waves and stages of sleep from a neuroscience perspective. In this post, we will cover some simple habits to help you get a relaxing and rejuvenating sleep. There is nothing more rewarding than awakening refreshed…
Neuroscience Evidence of Benefits of Yoga on Brain Health
A recent study conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Wayne State University indicates that Yoga has a positive effect on the structure and function of key brain areas associated with memory. The findings provide evidence that yoga may hold promise in mitigating the age-related and neurodegenerative decline. The practice of Yoga originated and developed over many thousands of years by sages in ancient India, is known to have a positive effect on body and mind. Yoga…
Stages of Sleep – Neuroscience and Yoga Perspective
After learning about the brain waves in the previous post, let’s explore the stages of sleep and what happens in each stage. The neurological understanding of sleep cycle and brain waves will be useful in correlating the Yogasanas and Pranayam with their benefits in various sleep-related disorders. It will also help avoid habits that are detrimental to health. This is the third part of the sleep series. In the first part, we covered the and the second one was about…
Brain Waves – A Neuroscience Measure of State of Mind
In our previous post, we covered the Neuroscience perspective of the importance of sleep, and what happens when we sleep. Before we discuss the next topics on sleep i.e. the stages of sleep and how Yoga helps in improving quality sleep, it is important to understand the neuroscience of brain waves – a measurable indicator of the state of mind. Our brain has approximately 80 to 100 billion neurons, which communicate with each other by transmitting electrical impulses through neural…
Why is Sleep important – a Neuroscience Perspective
Good quality sleep is vital to the health of the body and mind. Adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep at night while adolescence needs around 9 to 10. We are just beginning to understand through Neuroscience why we need sleep. Sleep deprivation or poor-quality sleep can lead to disorders. It can be as simple as irritability, fatigue, and loss of concentration in the short-term. Long-Term sleep deprivation can lead to immune system related disorders (like inflammation, autoimmune diseases),…
Baroreflex – The Secret Behind Inverted Yoga Poses like Sirsasana
It is a popular belief that the secret behind inverted Yoga poses (like Sirsasana and Sarvangasana) is the increase the blood supply to the brain that promotes relaxation and calmness. But it is not true. Then, what makes inversions so effective for mental health? It’s a body-mind Neuroscience reflex called “Baroreflex”. Let’s look at it from a neuroscience perspective. Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) is a measure of the blood supply to the brain in a given period of time. In…