What is Yoga | Yoga Definition | Yoga in Details

 WHAT IS YOGA 

       

     Yoga is a sanskrit word meaning union . It is the method of integrating the body, breath and mind .

     

       It basically involves asanas , controlled breathing, meditation & mantras .

     

       Start doing yoga , it has amazing benefits which will surely help you to make your life much better.

WHAT IS BREATHING EXERCISE OR PRANAYAMA ?

• Generally , Breath is the main source of nourishment for all the cells of the body.

• It helps in increase the flow of vital organs , build immunity against diseases.

• It also help to strengthen the voluntary and autonomic nervous system .

WHAT ARE HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA ? 

      Many people might get doubt like why to do yoga ? Here is the answer 

• Yoga begins with working of body on basic structural level .

• Yoga practices  stimulate and balance all systems of the body .

• A few months practice of yoga triggers neuro hormonal mechanisms.

COMING TO PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF YOGA :

Physiological benefits :

1) Effects on nervous system :

• Yoga brings about stable  equilibrium in autonomic nervous system , with tendency towards parasympathetic dominance.

Which results in following 

    1) decrease in heart rate

    2) decrease in  respiratory rate

    3) Improvement in GIT & excretory functions

    4) Improvement in sexual activity

    5) Favours storage of abdominal nutrients ( makes you healthy ) 

   6) decreases  oxygen consumption

   7) You can even find changes in EEG pattern  – pre dominance of alpha, theta, delta& beta waves increases which indicate more relaxed state.

    8) Sensory attenuation i.e minimal sensory input (less distraction ,better concentration , decrease in pain sensation )

    9) Motor attenuation i.e minimal motor input (comfortable posture)

WHAT ARE EFFECTS OF YOGA ON CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ? 

If you practice yoga for good decent time , then you get to see following benefits 

      1) Improvement in higher intellectual functions.

       2) Emotional changes ( you will be motivated ) 

       3) Increase in memory power.

       4) Improvement in CSF

       5) Improvement in depth of  perception & critical fusion frequency .

 

WHAT ARE AFFECTS OF YOGA ON CARDIO VASCULAR SYSTEM ? 

    1) decreases heart rate and systemic blood pressure.

    2) Cardiovascular efficiency increases.

WHAT ARE EFFECTS OF YOGA ON RESPIRATORY SYSTEM 

      1) Increases Tidal volume 

      2) Increases Vital capacity 

      3) Increases Breath holding time 

      4) Increases Maximum breathing capacity 

WHAT ARE EFFECTS OF YOGA ON METABOLISM ? 

      Metabolic rate decreases.

WHAT ARE EFFECTS OF YOGA ON NEURO ENDOCRINE  SYSTEM 

      

     1) Decrease in urinary excretion of catecholamine .

      2) increase in urinary cortisol excretion .

      3) increase in thyroxine , oxytocin , prolactin secretion 

      4) decrease in  fasting blood glucose levels.

 

WHAT ARE EFFECTS OF YOGA ON SKELETAL AND MUSCULAR SYSTEM 

 

       1) EMG activity increases

       2) Flexibility and range of movement in joint increases

        3) Strength and resilience increases

        4) Endurance increases

        5) Energy levels increases.

 

WHAT ARE AFFECTS OF YOGA ON DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 

     Yoga helps in good digestion by many ways 

       1) Increases  blood flow to GIT

       2)Stimulates peristalsis 

       3)Relaxes digestive system , which leads to more effective elimination .

 

WHAT ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF YOGA 

     

       1) Somatic & kinesthetic  awareness increases 

       2) Makes you happy

       3) Anxiety & depression decreases

       4) Hostility decreases

       5) Psychomotor functions increases

WHAT ARE BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DUE TO YOGA 

      If you perform yoga daily then , Biochemical profile improves which indicates anti-stress and antioxidant effects.

    1) Increase in Hematocrit , Hemoglobin and  lymphocytes count

    2) Increase in total leukocyte count 

    3) Total serum proteins and vitamin C increases in your blood

    4) Glucose and sodium levels decreases

    5) Decreases cholesterol , triglycerides , VLDL , LDL etc...

WHAT IS ROLE OF YOGA IN DISEASES ? 

     Yoga has been shown to play a major role in recovery and contribute to good helath .Yoga has been found to be particularly helpful in the management of obesity .

Mechanisms by which yoga helps with diseases : 

     •By simple excess calorie expenditure

     •Life style modification

     •Improvement in dietary habits

     •Positive body mind equilibrium

 

2) HYPERTENSION 

      

      Impaired baro reflex sensitivity has been increasingly postulated to be one of the major causative factors of essential hypertension.

Mechanisms by which yoga helps with hypertension : 

     1) Restoration of baro reflex with autonomic readjustments.

     2) Progressive reduction of sympathetic and  renin angiotensin activity .

 

3) DIABETIS MELLITUS :

     

      Yoga cant cure diabetis , but it can surely help to bring lifestyle changes necessary to keep diabetics symptoms under check .

    

     This is done by neurohormonal modulation involving insulin and  glucagon activity.

 

4) SKELETAL MUSCULAR DISORDERS 

      

      Yoga has been benefical for skeletal- muscular disorders such as backache, spondylitis etc

     

      Asanas strengthen the back muscles and helps in relieving back pain. It also helps in relieving muscle spasms by increasing flexibility and decrease in body weight.

5) RECOVERY FROM CANCER :

      

      Individuals who are diagnosed with cancer, receiving chemotherapy or radiational treatment, recovering from surgical tumour removal or remission generally have side effects , anxiety or emotional stress.

     

     Yoga helps as adjunct to medical treatment.It ease the symptoms and boosts your energy. Gives you motivation.