New research shows us that yoga changes how our brain works, for the better. Due to neuroplasticity of our brains, these changes demonstrate the potential for yoga to become an effective adjunct to our medical and psychological care.
What does yoga do for my brain?
When your brain becomes accustomed to a well-worn neural path, it becomes a habit, such as mindlessly looking at your phone when you are bored. New neural paths can form in the same way and repeated activation makes these paths bigger and stronger. By reinforcing positive behaviors, yoga gives us the tools to break thought and emotional patterns that no longer serve us.
What evidence is there to show that yoga really changes the brain?
A number of studies have focused on this. One 2015 review of two decades of research found that specific areas of the brain are commonly affected by the yoga-based practice of mindfulness. The diagram on top of the page shows that key areas of the frontal cortex are strengthened, helping you effectively recognize and regulate emotions. Brain scans reported in a different research article from 2018 that yoga asanas (postures) and meditation both reduced amygdala volume on the right hand side of the brain, which is associated with fear and negative emotions. In addition, researchers at Stanford University found that 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation enabled people to better reduce fear-related amygdala activity. This seems to work largely as a result of participants being mindful of sensations and emotions instead of pushing them down.
Did you know?
Researchers believe that somatic practices (or movement practices that emphasize perception such as yoga asanas) are useful for helping people to process trauma without re-triggering because they help us release tension held in the body, aka density in the body.
Try and see for yourself, as experience is the best indicator.