The human brain is one of the most complex organs in the body. With millions of nerves and cells, the brain keeps on working on round the clock basis, even while we are asleep. For such an important organ of the body, it is important that we must take proper care. We must ensure that the brain receives proper care and nutrition so that it can perform at its optimal level. There are innumerable factors that play a crucial role in the degeneration of the brain and various kinds of disorders might set in. However, protection against these kinds of problems is available and that too in the most natural manner. Read on to know about the same.
Yoga and brain health and power
Since ancient times, people have been practicing yoga for ensuring the well-being of the mind and the body. You might not know but yoga helps in strengthening the brain manifold times. The power and capabilities of the brain are enhanced with the help of yoga. Study and research reports stand evidence to the fact that yoga has bettered attention span, cognitive abilities, memory and concentration in human beings to a great extent. Not only this, but yoga can also help in keeping degenerative diseases at bay successfully.
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Yoga poses which help in increasing brain power
Mentioned below are some very useful yoga poses, which have shown to boost brain power significantly:
1. Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
If you have an extremely stressful day at work and you are looking to relax, there is no better way than following this yoga pose. It is obvious that for relaxing you would like to have a seat, but that shouldn’t be on a chair. In Padmasana, you have to sit cross-legged on a flat surface and see how relaxed you feel. The relaxing benefits can be felt all over the mind and the body and the experience are truly satisfactory. This is an extremely relaxed posture and it helps in removal of fatigue and tension from the body. When stress is relieved from the body, the brain is able to function in a better manner. Infact the brain becomes rejuvenated to a great extent. The chakras are awakened in the body and awareness is increased. Padmasana brings in best results when it is done in the morning, but not necessarily in an empty stomach.
How it is done: Sit on any flat surface in a cross-legged position. The right foot should be under the left thigh and the left foot should be on the right thigh. The soles of the feet should be in an upward direction. The index finger and the thumb of the hands should be together and the other fingers should be extended outwards. Inhale deeply and then exhale.
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2. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Spinal Twist Pose)
This yoga pose is named after the great sage Matsyendranath. This half spinal twist comes with innumerable variations. It has been seen that this particular pose is an integral part of 12 basic Hatha Yoga asanas. This yoga should be done early in the morning in an empty stomach or in the evening 4-6 hours after a meal. This is a basic level Hatha yoga pose and should be done for minimum 30-60 seconds. With the help of this yoga pose, stiffness can be relieved in the back and the spine becomes reinvigorated. When the back and spine are rejuvenated, the mind has a therapeutic healing feeling. Besides this, digestion is also improved with this yoga. The supply of oxygen is increased to the lungs with the pose leading to the detoxification of the internal organs. Blood is also purified and circulation is also improved with this yoga.
How it is done: Sit straight with legs completely stretched out and erect spine. The left leg should be bent in such a manner that the heel of these feet should be next to the right hip. The right leg should be placed next to the left knee by moving it over the knee. While keeping the spine erect, the waist, neck, and shoulders should be twisted towards the right and the gaze should be over the right shoulder. The right hand can be placed behind you, while the left hand can be placed on the right knee. Remain like this for 30-60 seconds. Breathe slowly and deeply. Exhale and then slowly start releasing the hand, waist, chest, and neck. Relax but sit straight. Do the same steps on the other side.
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3. Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breathing)
In our daily lives now, we are surrounded by various kinds of distractions and chaotic situations. As a result, it becomes difficult for us to memorize something, concentrate on something and also hampers retention power. With the help of this asana, your memory and concentration issues can be fixed after a full day at work. The humming vibrations and sounds help in soothing and calming the mind. Not only this, fatigue and stress are removed from the body and mind. It is also possible to get rid of various kinds of negative emotions like agitation, frustration, anger, and anxiety with this particular yoga.
How it is done: For this yoga, you will need to sit in a cross-legged position. Put your index finger on the cartilage between the cheek and the ears. Inhale deeply. Now press the cartilage gently into the ears and make a humming bee-like sound while exhaling. This should be done a minimum of 3-5 times for the best results.
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4. Nadisuddhi Pranayama (Channel Cleaning Breathing)
We all know how important oxygen is for the body and the brain. Brain function can be improved to a great extent with the help of proper oxygen supply. Most of us spend a good deal of time inside a room etc. Getting some fresh air is good for health as the brain also gets a good share of oxygen. Your breathing should be slow as you breathe in and out. You will feel that your heart rate decreases with this asana. Thus your stress and anxiety levels will also be reduced with the help of this yoga pose.
How it is done: Make sure that you sit in a comfortable position in a cross-legged manner. Now exhale deeply first. Use your thumb and press the right nostril and breathe in from the left nostril. Both the nostrils will be held closed for a few seconds. Now open the right nostril and keep the left one closed. You have to breathe out from this one now. Repeat the process but this time the nostrils will be changed.
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5. Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
This asana helps in combating the issue of sleeplessness resulting from a restless mind. Along with this, the yoga pose also helps in increasing focus and attention by concentrating on your breathing patterns and relaxing overall. It helps in relieving insomnia and headaches.
How it is done: You have to stand with your feet together and keep your arms by your side. The pelvic region will be in a neutral position and the abdominal muscles will be engaged completely. The chin will remain parallel to the ground. Raise the arms up and the palms will come close and touch one another, with fingers pointing towards the sky. Breathe in and breathe out normally. As you exhale, release a gentle sound.
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