She recommended practising pranayama and yoga nidra regularly, or for at least three to four times a week, especially for those recovering from stroke and epilepsy…reports Asian Lite News
As the contribution of neurological disorders to the total disease burden doubled from about 4 per cent in 1990 to 8.2 per cent in 2019, research in the field has also evolved progressively. And close to 700 PubMed journals over the last 54 years have reported that yoga can be the solution to this growing problem.
Deliberating on the science behind the effectiveness of yoga in preventing and treating neurological disorders, Dr Pooja Pandey, a yoga expert with the Arogya Physiotherapy & Rehab Centre, Bengaluru, said: “Yoga is instrumental in fixing neurological problems. Also, yoga and meditation are known to activate the pituitary gland, the master gland, which is responsible for regulating brain activity, metabolism as well as blood pressure.”
Dr Pandey added: “Another key factor to note is that yoga also reduces the level of cortisol, the stress hormone in the body, which is the root cause of a large number of diseases. Pranayama, moreover, reduces neural excitability, which is one of the major causes of epilepsy.”
She recommended practising pranayama and yoga nidra regularly, or for at least three to four times a week, especially for those recovering from stroke and epilepsy.
Dr Pandey said all asanas that involve bending backwards are good for neurological disorders as they improve blood supply to the brain. Second, asanas that activate your spinal cord are also beneficial as they calm down the central nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. Finally, asanas that provide relaxation are also of special significance as they calm down the brain and the nervous system.
The ways of performing these activities may vary from person to person, depending on his or her condition and fitness level. It is therefore important to practise yoga under the supervision of a trained professional and personalise the experience to gain the maximum benefits out of it.
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