Comments on: Yoga Stretches Brain Chemical http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html Science Blog from Freelance Science Writer David Bradley Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:14:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-3#comment-413633 David Bradley Thu, 01 May 2008 13:57:16 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-413633 New <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5zexsf" rel="nofollow">research</a> published April 2008 - "A growing body of research suggests that traditional mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong may offer safe and cost-effective strategies for reducing insulin resistance syndrome-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease in older populations, including postmenopausal women." Any thoughts people? db New research
published April 2008 – “A growing body of research suggests that traditional mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong may offer safe and cost-effective strategies for reducing insulin resistance syndrome-related risk factors for cardiovascular disease in older populations, including postmenopausal women.”

Any thoughts people?

db

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-3#comment-256137 David Bradley Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:31:17 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-256137 Has anyone taken a look at the Yoga Periodic Table? I can highly recommend it (I got hold of one for my wife, who is a yoga teacher). It will hang in pride of place in her boudoir once it's back from the framers. db Has anyone taken a look at the Yoga Periodic Table? I can highly recommend it (I got hold of one for my wife, who is a yoga teacher). It will hang in pride of place in her boudoir once it’s back from the framers.

db

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-2#comment-173492 David Bradley Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:36:13 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-173492 Deb - my wife is a yoga instructor, she's practiced since she was in her early 20s, so been at it a while (tee hee), the key phrase she uses is learning the ability to "let go", which is fairly synonymous with "surrender" I suppose. As she explains it though it's not just about letting go in practice but in all aspects of one's life...and death. Amy - I cannot say I've ever suffered hardcore insomnia, but there are nights when I cannot get to sleep or when I wake up for no apparent reason and then cannot get back to sleep. I use a little yoga then, in fact it's a technique my dad taught me when I was a kid (although he didn't know it as yoga at the time). Basically, involves focusing on toes, feet, calves and working up the body (in your head) relaxing each part as you go, until you drift off again. Deb – my wife is a yoga instructor, she’s practiced since she was in her early 20s, so been at it a while (tee hee), the key phrase she uses is learning the ability to “let go”, which is fairly synonymous with “surrender” I suppose. As she explains it though it’s not just about letting go in practice but in all aspects of one’s life…and death.

Amy – I cannot say I’ve ever suffered hardcore insomnia, but there are nights when I cannot get to sleep or when I wake up for no apparent reason and then cannot get back to sleep. I use a little yoga then, in fact it’s a technique my dad taught me when I was a kid (although he didn’t know it as yoga at the time). Basically, involves focusing on toes, feet, calves and working up the body (in your head) relaxing each part as you go, until you drift off again.

]]> By: deb lazer http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-2#comment-173482 deb lazer Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:23:50 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-173482 I have been practicing yoga for 27 years (regularly, 3 or more times per week) and teaching for nearly 10 years. Among my student population are teenagers but mostly men and women between 30-70. The "trick" to yoga (if there is one) is to surrender, which is quite challenging for most of us. A short story: a 17-year-old student of mine, while taking a killer test began to panic. She heard my voice in her head. What was I saying? "Focus on your right big toe." She said just that small amount of focus outside her head relaxed her and she aced the test. Yoga works for relaxation, and having the right teacher for you is imperative. Virgina, if you are feeling restless in a yoga class, you are missing the most germaine parts of the practice. Imagine using your breath as a conduit to letting go of tension. I have been practicing yoga for 27 years (regularly, 3 or more times per week) and teaching for nearly 10 years. Among my student population are teenagers but mostly men and women between 30-70. The “trick” to yoga (if there is one) is to surrender, which is quite challenging for most of us. A short story: a 17-year-old student of mine, while taking a killer test began to panic. She heard my voice in her head. What was I saying? “Focus on your right big toe.” She said just that small amount of focus outside her head relaxed her and she aced the test. Yoga works for relaxation, and having the right teacher for you is imperative.

Virgina, if you are feeling restless in a yoga class, you are missing the most germaine parts of the practice. Imagine using your breath as a conduit to letting go of tension.

]]> By: Amy Proal http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-2#comment-173474 Amy Proal Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:35:12 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-173474 I showed this piece to my Mom because she's a yoga instructor. I suffered from hardcore insomnia for several years (now it's much improved because I got treatment). When I had difficulties sleeping my Mom would insist that I do nightime relaxation poses. If I actually did them, breathing the way I was supposed to, really trying to relax into the pose, I think it did help me fall asleep. But the insomnia was so bad that I also had to take several medications to get it under control. Interestingly they all affect re-uptake of GABA. One of them is actually called Gabitril. So now that I know that yoga enhances GABA production I have a better idea of why, on a chemical level, those nightime yoga routines helped. I still rest in child's pose for about five mintues every night before I got to sleep. Interestingly, Xyrem, the "date rape drug" which is actually used for severe insomnia also works on the GABA receptors. So GABA really does influence how relax and... pass out! Amy I showed this piece to my Mom because she’s a yoga instructor. I suffered from hardcore insomnia for several years (now it’s much improved because I got treatment). When I had difficulties sleeping my Mom would insist that I do nightime relaxation poses. If I actually did them, breathing the way I was supposed to, really trying to relax into the pose, I think it did help me fall asleep.

But the insomnia was so bad that I also had to take several medications to get it under control. Interestingly they all affect re-uptake of GABA. One of them is actually called Gabitril. So now that I know that yoga enhances GABA production I have a better idea of why, on a chemical level, those nightime yoga routines helped. I still rest in child’s pose for about five mintues every night before I got to sleep.

Interestingly, Xyrem, the “date rape drug” which is actually used for severe insomnia also works on the GABA receptors. So GABA really does influence how relax and… pass out!

Amy

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-2#comment-136704 David Bradley Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:01:02 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-136704 Yep, my mind flickers too much to even focus on yoga for more than a few moments, sadly. Yep, my mind flickers too much to even focus on yoga for more than a few moments, sadly.

]]> By: Shaheen usmani http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-2#comment-135050 Shaheen usmani Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:55:53 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-135050 It is true that any kind of exercise helps in reducing stress. My experience has been that Yoga is more effective when you completely tune in your mind and body. It requires lot of discipline and submission. It is believed that a flickering mind is the biggest barrier to achieving peace and calmness within you. Thanks It is true that any kind of exercise helps in reducing stress. My experience has been that Yoga is more effective when you completely tune in your mind and body. It requires lot of discipline and submission. It is believed that a flickering mind is the biggest barrier to achieving peace and calmness within you. Thanks

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-1#comment-121958 David Bradley Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:32:50 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-121958 Yep, my gut feeling is that it's just "activity" of almost any sort that affects the brain in a positive way, whether it's yoga, cycling, swimmng, working out, dancing, or a bit of the other Yep, my gut feeling is that it’s just “activity” of almost any sort that affects the brain in a positive way, whether it’s yoga, cycling, swimmng, working out, dancing, or a bit of the other

]]> By: virginia http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-1#comment-121957 virginia Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:29:19 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-121957 Probably it is not just from yoga. I get that happy feeling from my dancing classes. yoga, on the other hand, doesn't do anything for me. On the contrary, makes me feel restless. Probably it is not just from yoga.
I get that happy feeling from my dancing classes.
yoga, on the other hand, doesn’t do anything for me. On the contrary, makes me feel restless.

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html/comment-page-1#comment-121646 David Bradley Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:00:21 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/yoga-stretches-brain-chemical.html#comment-121646 It turns out that exercise has a similar effect to antidepressants on depression, according to a <a href="http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=130&a=35215&l=en&newsdep=130&newsdep=130" rel="nofollow">report published this month</a> by Swedish scientists. It turns out that exercise has a similar effect to antidepressants on depression, according to a report published this month by Swedish scientists.

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