Released June 30, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Shazia Omar
Throughout his career, famed soccer player David Beckham has frequently spoken about how yoga has helped him maintain fitness, improve flexibility, and recover more efficiently from injuries. By incorporating yoga into his training, Beckham has improved his performance on the field and extended his professional career.
Yoga isn’t just about getting stronger and more beautiful. It also impacts your health. Recent studies suggest that yoga may be a preventative measure against dementia and cognitive decline. The focus of these studies is on the role of the subtle tweaks that yogis make to maintain balance, proper alignment, and fluidity. These small adjustments are crucial because they affect multiple neural pathways and promote brain plasticity.
For example, even a seemingly simple movement like Tree Pose requires practitioners to make subtle adjustments to their hips, spine, and shoulders to maintain balance. These continual adjustments stimulate the brain’s proprioceptive networks, which are responsible for spatial awareness and coordination.
The April 29, 2024 issue of Harvard Health Publishing states, “When you lift weights, your muscles get stronger and bigger. When you practice yoga, your brain cells form new connections, causing changes in brain structure and function that improve cognitive abilities like learning and memory. Yoga strengthens parts of the brain that play key roles in memory, attention, cognition, thought, and language. Think of it as weightlifting for the brain.”
Photo: Sazed bin Said
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Photo: Sazed bin Said
A study conducted by the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation found that regular yoga practice significantly improved participants’ cognitive function. The study highlighted that the complex, mindful movements and breathing techniques required in yoga strengthen the connections between different parts of the brain. These connections are essential for maintaining cognitive function and delaying the onset of dementia.
The hippocampus, a brain region important for memory and learning, particularly benefits from these fine-tuning adjustments. A study published in the Alzheimer’s Journal highlighted that yoga practitioners had increased grey matter volume in the hippocampus compared to non-practitioners. This increase may be due to neuroplastic changes promoted by the constant conscious adjustments required in yoga.
Yoga has also been shown to benefit those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by improving focus and reducing hyperactivity. The emphasis on breath control and mindfulness in yoga practice increases focus and promotes calmness, making it an effective practice for managing ADHD symptoms.
As research continues to reveal the profound impact yoga has on cognitive longevity, incorporating yoga into your daily life may become a widely recommended strategy for maintaining brain health and preventing cognitive decline.