Yoga takes an integrated approach towards an individual. It understands and emphasises on a deep connection between the body, mind and soul through yoga postures, breath and meditation. It is proven that yoga can release stress and relieve strain, making you happier, healthier and energetic. When you understand how closely your mind and body work, it opens a whole new perspective on your health and wellbeing.
Your body is a sophisticated machine
By the time you reach adulthood you do not notice drastic and rapid changes on the outside, as you would in a growing child, and you are led to believe that your body is static. But your body is going through wear and tear as it experiences stress and strain, and mood swings. These everyday situations are translated as hormonal changes within the body. When you perceive a physical, mental or emotional threat, you trigger a stress response in the body. The body cannot tell the difference between being chased by a tiger and chasing a nerve wrecking deadline. Hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) are released in the bloodstream. These activate 30 other hormones to deal with the perceived threat. As a result, heart rate, blood pressure and blood-sugar levels increase, muscles tense up, digestive and immune system shut down to allot more energy to the urgency in the body. In simple words, your body is in utter chaos. Stress can be the root cause of several disorders and diseases in the body.
Your mind comes to the rescue
Recovery depends on the severity of the ailment and has to be backed with medical assistance. When the body is suffering from stress, ailments or diseases, your mind plays an important part in helping it recover. We’ve all heard of what’s called the placebo effect. A placebo is an inactive substance such as sugar, distilled water, or saline solution that can sometimes improve a patient’s condition simply because of the person’s positive response to it and his belief that it will be helpful. This effect can come from the placebo, doctor, family, friend or anything that brings positivity or hope to the sufferer’s mind.
A 1957 research shows that a cancer patient named Wright had high expectations from a drug the doctors had then discovered to cure cancer. Due to this extremely positive attitude, he managed to recover and return healthy, which was nothing short of a miracle. The doctors observed that the same drug had no effect on any other cancer patients. Four months later, when the research was published and Wright discovered the drug had proven ineffective, he died in two days. The drug had the placebo effect on Wright. Clearly, positive thinking and its impact on ailments and diseases is certainly beneficial.
Yoga strengthens the body-mind connection
Yoga amplifies this placebo effect by creating a favourable environment within the body with an increase of good hormones. Regular practice of yoga ensures a robust endocrine (hormonal) system and a shift to parasympathetic drive in the body. In the parasympathetic drive, the body is at ease, immunity is high and feelings of warmth and happiness are increased. Your confidence levels are high and reinforce your belief. You can keep stress at bay through postures and breathing and prevent diseases.
Developing awareness of the body-mind connection is the key to staying stress-free. Yoga takes a preventive approach to being disease-free and healthy to experience a long and fulfilling life.
Next week: Yoga for gynaecological issues
This is an interactive series, in which we will bring you practical tips on daily living, inspired by the vision of yoga. Write in to tabloid@gulfnews.com with your questions and doubts regarding enhancing your lifestyle through yoga. For more information, call 800-YOGA (9642) or log on to artisticyoga.com
