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| By Helena Schätzle, Geo-Magazine, published June 2013. |
'Words cannot describe the worth of Yoga, it has to be
experienced.' by B.K.S. Iyengar
The other weekend, my boyfriend's best friend, a physiotherapist, came up to me and gave me this 15-page long article about Yoga. He, himself received this from a patient and is totally new to it. It wasn't the typical article about where Yoga has started and what it actually is, but more about what Yoga can. Me, as an advocate of Yoga, immediately started to read it and did not stop until the last sentence was absorbed. The article is by the scientist Hania Luczak and was published in the GEO-magazine June, 2013.
It is a report about Yoga's Health Benefits, but especially about recent scientific results. A GEO-team visited many researchers from Germany to the United States and even to India to learn more about its healing power. Here are the major findings:
1. Neck Pain, the Charité Berlin found out that patients had less
pain after ten weeks of a 90-minute yoga lesson per week
compared to patients who practiced back exerices by their own.
pain after ten weeks of a 90-minute yoga lesson per week
compared to patients who practiced back exerices by their own.
2. Back Pain, the University of Washington (Seattle),
almost 80% of Yoga practitioners were able to quit their
painkillers by doing yoga once a week for half a year.
almost 80% of Yoga practitioners were able to quit their
painkillers by doing yoga once a week for half a year.
3. Stress Level, it definitely reduces your stress level so that you
become more calm and mindful. Stress, we know it all,
is the cause for burnout, depression, anxiety, addiction, obesity,
chronic inflammations and more.
become more calm and mindful. Stress, we know it all,
is the cause for burnout, depression, anxiety, addiction, obesity,
chronic inflammations and more.
4. Aerobics vs. Yoga, University of California,
Yoga is not only as good as physical exercise,
but might be even better. The researchers suggest: Cardio for
endurance, but yoga for your mind and well-being.
Yoga is not only as good as physical exercise,
but might be even better. The researchers suggest: Cardio for
endurance, but yoga for your mind and well-being.
5. Sleep, Harvard University in Boston,
after only eight weeks of yoga, people sleep better :)
after only eight weeks of yoga, people sleep better :)
6. Stress Reduction & High Blood Pressure, Yale University,
patients were able to reduce their medications by doing yoga.
patients were able to reduce their medications by doing yoga.
7. Relaxation, University of Dresden,
Yoga calms down your heart :)
Yoga calms down your heart :)
8. Changes in the Central Nervous System, Boston University
School of Medicine, the researchers found out that Yogis and
people who regularly practice yoga produce more gamma-
aminobutyric acid, short GABA, which eases anxiety.
They also compared this to sport activities.
School of Medicine, the researchers found out that Yogis and
people who regularly practice yoga produce more gamma-
aminobutyric acid, short GABA, which eases anxiety.
They also compared this to sport activities.
9. Mental Health and Improvement in Cognitive Performance,
University of California, L.A., only 12
minutes of Yoga per day lead to a reduction of depression,
a highler level of mental health and cognitive performance
compared to a group which only listened to relaxation music
in those 12 minutes. Additionally, they've found out that there's
also a reduction of cell aging. Incredible, right?
10. Breast Cancer, Department of Psychology,
University of Calif., people who suffered from breast cancer
and had to deal with the Fatigue-Syndrome,
(which occurs after a chemotherapy)
and did Yoga for three months, twice a week,
felt an improvement in their physical and emotional condition.
I have to add that the researchers were mostly examining the Iyengar-Yoga which is based on these three pillars: Breath Control (Pranayama), Physical Exercise (Asana) and Meditation. Those three can be healing, but together they are invincible.
The key factor in those studies were that participants practiced a type of Yoga that includes the practice of breathing and mindfulness. Modern types like Bikram and Power Yoga will not lead to the mentioned benefits. With Yoga, Hania Luczak writes, one will slip into a Health-Provision-System. Often, you will subconsciously turn to a healthier lifestyle, have better relationships and a better working life.
The key factor in those studies were that participants practiced a type of Yoga that includes the practice of breathing and mindfulness. Modern types like Bikram and Power Yoga will not lead to the mentioned benefits. With Yoga, Hania Luczak writes, one will slip into a Health-Provision-System. Often, you will subconsciously turn to a healthier lifestyle, have better relationships and a better working life.
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| Morning Meditation Post, Summer 2013. |
Will you give the Power of Yoga a try? ;-)
Love and Namaste ♥
My mother prefers I do yoga.
ReplyDeleteThe benefits sounds too good to be trueee!
It sounds like what miracles can only do. I must try this :o
Lately, I've been stressing and a bit too excited the past week.
Thanks for this article! I don't think I would have though about doing yoga but I'm interested ^^
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