The holistic approach that yoga has to wellness overall, means that it has beneficial impacts on the brain as well as the body. When we speak of yoga we include the practice of Pranayam and also meditation within this description; we speak of the ways in which yoga and Pranayam affect the chakras or psychic centers of the body, the physiological state of the brain as well as the activity of the brain.
Positive impacts on depression, anxiety and sleep regulation
The way that the practice of meditation and yoga impacts the central nervous system is well documented and supported by reliable, well designed studies. Studies published in medical journals have found that meditation can help to treat some forms of depression and anxiety; that its practice could be as effective as antidepressant medication. The advantage of using natural, noninvasive practices to deal with such mental issues is evident.
The body’s autonomic nervous system regulates the stress response of the body. It is this system that gives rise to the fight or flight response or to the rest and repose responses. While the system sometimes triggers the stress response within the body to increase output and improve performance, at others it is the opposite reaction that is triggered. A balance of these two responses is essential for health and wellbeing. Yogic breathing is thought to help balance these responses. One study found that certain Pranayam technique improved stress resilience.
What we call yog-nidra or yogic sleep is also seen to improve mental health by enhancing positive thought processes. Poses such as sirsasan (the head stand) obviously increase blood flow to the brain; another way in which brain functioning improves. As stress is reduced and mental processes are enhanced, there is a direct positive impact on sleep and sleep patterns.
The trickle up effect
Another expert has opined that proper breathing techniques can also help to optimize blood flow by enhancing functioning of the capillaries and regulating the heart rate. The beneficial impact of Pranayam and yoga on the body has a positive impact on the brain and overall mental health as well… what is sometimes referred to as the ‘trickle up’ effect.
One researcher also found that yoga is beneficial because of how it stimulates the vagus nerve: possibly increasing the number of neurotransmitters in the brain and thereby reducing anxiety. Putting in simply, conscious breathing helps to physically calm down the body and thereby increase peace of mind.
How Yoga and Pranayam impact the endocrine system
There is evidence to suggest that the regular practice of yoga and Pranayam regulate the production of certain hormones and their delivery to the different parts of the body. The endocrine system can impact and regulate growth, metabolism, heart rate, the sleep cycle and homeostasis (state of balance in the body). Pranayam is also thought to enhance the oxygen supply to the hypothalamus in the brain, which in turn has a positive impact on the endocrine system.
While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of the positive impacts of yoga and Pranayam, more and more recent research is pointing to the positive impacts of the yogic lifestyle on the brain and body as well.