This is a common question that I get asked, invariably after meeting somebody new when they find out that I am studying both Yoga Teacher Training and also a diploma in financial services. Indeed, they are opposing in terms of the ultimate career path, but I have found that they complement each other rather well. Most people want to know, aside from why I am pursuing both avenues at once (‘that’s too much to take on, why don’t you just cut down on yoga?’), why they should start doing yoga.
There are innumerable studies into the benefits of ‘doing yoga’, which can be broadly separated into two categories – physical and mental – but the mind and body are so intrinsically interlinked that its hard to fully separate them. A rugby player or weight-lifting aficionado might not care about whether practicing yoga is going to make them a happier person, but I suspect that the subtler values of dedicated practice inevitably permeate the souls of even the most cynical .
As my fellow trainee indicates in her own blog (www.sugarandsakura.com) the tentacle-like effects of yoga practice reach deep into the brain, affecting the neurotransmitters of the central nervous system. In particular, low levels of the ‘chemical messenger’ known as GABA are found in those suffering from depression. Researcher Chris Streeter found that ‘ in experienced yoga practitioners, brain GABA levels increase after a session of yoga’. I can personally testify to this statement, having suffered from agoraphobia for the nearly 6 years. Regular yoga practice doesn’t just lower anxiety levels long term, it has also provided me with the tools to deal with the seemingly unavoidable bouts of high anxiety which can materialize with no warning – chiefly being able to control the physiological response (elevated heart rate, shallow breathing and light-headedness) and emotionally becoming aware that all things are temporary - this too shall pass.
Some of the physical benefits of regular practice include (but are by no means limited to):
· Increased nerve conduction velocity, reducing the nerve damage associated with a range of disorders such as diabetes or traumatic injury.
· Muscle relaxation - which can have a significant impact on inflamed airways, thus reducing the symptoms of bronchial asthma - one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in the world (in 2011 an estimated 235 million people suffered from asthma). The same applies to the chronic inflammation of blood vessels, which can be a key factor in heart disease.
· Increased flexibility – this is really an umbrella term covering a broad range of benefits – for example increased range of motion, elasticity and lubrication in the joints can decrease the risk of developing arthritis. More generally, stretching increases blood flow to the muscles, simultaneously reducing recovery time and risk of injury. Aspirants may notice a reduction in general aches and pains, which some attribute to the improved alignment and posture achieved with regular practice.
These are just a handful of benefits – a quick google search might throw up thousands of results - some with references to studies, others reflecting on personal experiences.
One common theme is that yoga is ‘good for you’. I personally have found that yoga has taught me, quietly and gradually, that loving myself and caring for my body is not only acceptable, but it should be a priority if I want to be able to love and care for others. Ahimsa, or non-violence, is a fundamental principle – one of the 5 Yamas, or ethical codes, that make up the first limb in Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga. Ahimsa means many things to many people, but to me it means love and compassion for all living things, including yourself. This means forgiving yourself if you eat too much, appreciating the times you can touch your toes and letting it go when you can’t, being grateful for all that your body can do instead of loathing what it looks like,
This is something that western attitudes have forgotten – if you aren’t busting a gut to get ahead in your career, to look the best in a bikini, to have the biggest house on the street or the fastest car, you just aren’t living. The further I have reached into yoga, the further I have reached into finding out about my true self – learning painful truths and facing parts of myself that I didn’t like. Yoga has helped me to face my emotions, doubts and fears – to really take them out and examine them – instead of stuffing them away in our usual British style. Physically I know that my body is getting stronger, I trust that my internal organs are dealing with the barrage of toxins they are faced with on a daily basis, but mentally I am building the kind of gentle doggedness and ego dissolution that comes from getting on my mat every day, no matter what.
In a gentle way you can shake the world ~ Gandhi
http://www.yogajournal.com/article/health/count-yoga-38-ways-yoga-keeps-fit/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11958969 http://www.iamj.in/images/upload/119_128.pdf http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2007.6338 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20112821 http://oaji.net/articles/2014/1021-1405082778.pdf http://web.archive.org/web/20110629035454/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs307/en/ http://www.osteobiflex.com/articles/how-yoga-helps-maintain-healthy-joints/
