Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India. There are eight parts to the whole system of yoga. The three most commonly known and practiced limbs in the Western Hemisphere are the physical postures known as asana, rhythmic breathing known as pranayama and meditation known as dhyana. The postures or asanas are held for varying lengths of time with attention to the alignment of the joints and limbs, as well as the breath. There are many different styles of yoga in the world today. However, they all have one common thread, which is to bring balance to the mind, body and spirit.
Consistent practice of Yoga has many positive health benefits. Some of these include improvement in posture, balance, flexibility and temperament. Stress is a very common feature in many people’s daily lives. We live in a fast paced competitive world. There are always deadlines to meet, bills to pay and work to do. Many of us are overworked, under rested and preoccupied with all of our obligations. We do not prioritize things that can make us feel better such as regular exercise, healthy diet, and hobbies that bring us joy.
The fight or flight response is a primitive reflex that results from the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. It was necessary long ago for the survival of the fittest. Whenever we were faced with unexpected danger, the body would react by causing the heart to beat very fast, the blood in the body would be diverted to the limbs in preparation for fight or flight and the breath to be shallow. The response would be activated by danger but then as soon as the crisis passed the parasympathetic system would take over, and the body would calm down. The heart rate would normalize as would the breath and blood flow in the body.
In these modern times, we hardly experience situations of sudden short lived danger. Instead, we have chronic stress in our lives. Many people feel that there is just not enough time to fit in everything into the day or even into a week. We become human doings instead of human beings. We worry about things we cannot control, we lament about the past and anticipate the future with concern. Our bodies however perceive these situations as stress and react with the fight or flight response continuously. It is never turned off. This results in many adverse effects to our health, such as high blood pressure, adult onset diabetes, obesity, migraines, cancer, unexplained aches and pains, depression, and insomnia.
The regular practice of yoga, however, can change all that. By practicing asanas, breathing and meditation, we can learn to live in the moment. We can learn to breathe deeply on a regular basis, focus on our inner joy, and realize that we can create the lives that we desire.
-Dr. Kecia Lowe
