“Yoga to Improve Brain Function” Boosts Cognitive Function & Memory

Cupertino-based MyYogaTeacher, which offers live, one-on-one and group yoga lessons, announces a new Yoga to Improve Brain Function class taught by yoga instructor Zaeem Zaidi. The class combines the practice of asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathwork) and meditation, and helps to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain and other vital organs.

“While the yogic breathing exercises appear to be simple, they have powerful effects on the mind and body,” says Zaidi, also a Ph.D. candidate in yoga at SVYASA University in India, the highly respected yoga university in India. “Delivering oxygen to the brain results in a nice boost–increased memory, clarity, and cognitive function–along with improvements in immunity, balance and stability in one’s posture. While the class is open to anyone desiring better cognitive health and the breathing exercises can be performed by anyone over eight years of age, the class is especially recommended for people over 50 to lower their risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.”

Class exercises include: sukshma vyayama (joint warmup and mobilization); udara shakti vikasaka (abdominal strengthening exercises); merudanda shakti vikasaka kriya (whole spine strengthening exercises); breathing exercises like nadi shodhana pranayama (alternate nostril breathing) and bhramari pranayama (humming bee breath); rapid breathing exercises; and meditation. Benefits of these breathing exercises include: calming the mind, improving circulation and respiration, purifying and balancing the nadis (energy channels), and harmonizing the right and left sides of the brain.

“Yogic rapid breathing combined with meditation help release endorphins in the body, which are feel-good hormones that help to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety, while improving positivity and overall sense of well-being,” Zaidi adds. In general, he advises that people practice 25 rounds of four different rapid breathing exercises at least three times weekly, in addition to practicing meditation for 10 to 15 minutes each day.

The four recommended rapid breathing exercises performed by inhaling and exhaling through the nostrils are:

• uccarana-sthal tatha vishuddha-chakra-shuddhi (straight neck breathing): this exercise improves the blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain;
• buddhi tatha dhrti-sakti-vikasaka (neck back while back bending): this exercise improves the blood flow to the parietal lobe of the brain;
• smarana sakti-vikasaka (gazing out 4-5 feet toward floor): this exercise improves the blood flow to the temporal lobe of the brain;
• medha sakti-vikasaka (gazing at toes): this exercise improves the blood flow in the occipital lobe of the brain.

However, he cautions that people with chronic headaches, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, or migraines, in addition to those who have had recent heart or abdominal surgery, should avoid the rapid breathing practice.

Yoga to Improve Brain Function can be accessed as part of MyYogaTeacher’s free trial period, which allows new users to receive unlimited group classes and two one-on-one sessions, over a period of 14 consecutive days. Interested students should sign up for the free trial at MyYogaTeacher.com. Subscriptions start at $49 monthly (billed every 4 weeks). All of MyYogaTeacher’s private and group sessions are 100% live (not pre-recorded).