Clinical Benefits Of Yoga
Prolonged bad mood could result in clinical depression. People suffering from a bad mood are suggested to practice yoga, as it treats depression and makes them feel better. Yoga yields therapeutic benefits in the body. Practicing yoga asanas like Matsyasana (fish pose), Balasana (child’s pose), Vriksasana (Balance/ tree pose), etc. can make an individual feel better.
Upon asking about the release of GABA after practicing yoga, Ruchi Phool, a holistic therapist and wellness consultant at Aikya Yoga said, “the healing and regenerative power of a human are infinite. Yoga aids in removing unnatural imbalances that may be blocking these. GABA and other positive hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and endorphins are generated naturally under healthy conditions in our body. When we live unnaturally, the natural processes inside our system are hindered. Holistic methods of living such as that advocated by Yoga guide us on how to keep the life force with in us alive and pure in tune with nature and universal forces. Hence, helping to restore the release of GABA in the brain”.
She added, “Yoga, being a holistic science, is unlike taking a pill. So, an isolated practice of a certain asana is not an advisable route to take as a quick fix. There are SOS’ available such as left nostril breathing in anxious states, but as a norm, yogic therapy works on removing the psychosomatic roots along with management at physical, mental and emotional levels. For elevated moods, one need to follow the right lifestyle practice suitable to their unique needs as a long-term intervention – diet, nutrition, exercise, psychological conditioning, detox, breathing techniques etc.”.
Being a holistic therapist, Ruchi says, "if someone with anxiety comes to me, along with immediate management, I work on diagnosing the root cause. Mostly it lies in our own extreme reactions, and consistent states of negative emotions”.
While talking about how yoga should be practiced therapist Phool suggests, “Initially, vigorous physical practices (dynamic asanas) along with a combination of dynamic (kapalbhati and balancing (anulom vilom) breathing techniques followed by deep relaxing techniques such as yoga Nidra or guided meditation practices can help. Detox and cleansing practices at multiple levels such as nadi Shudhi, jal neti, Vaman dhauti etc can help a lot. Yogic practice should be followed under guided supervision for therapeutic purposes as these are individualized and prescribed as per unique needs, constitution etc. Eventually must gain a good level of understanding of oneself, natural and universal laws of life and put them to practice coming out of it completely. As Ayurveda explains that transgression of conscience is the cause of creation of disease”.
Another result of the lack of GABA can lead to epilepsy, which is a neurological disorder causing seizures. As yoga facilitates the release of GABA, can it also help in treating yoga? In response, she said, “Yoga can certainly help in the management of Epilepsy, in some cases a reversal to some extent has also been observed. However, I’m not aware of complete reversals. It is important to note that there are multiple complexities and aspects that contribute to the causation of a disorder. A yoga or holistic therapist considers all these in an integrated way to treat it, not merely a single factor. Also, there are multiple kinds of epileptic disorders”.
Excess work is making people stressful. In typical office setups, the workload is affecting the workflow of the employees. Sometimes this stress results into seizures. To this, she advises of “Guided relaxations, Yoga Nidra, and relaxing breathing techniques would work wonders to alleviate stress. These in short periods practiced multiple times in a day can help manage or remove stress, including work stress.
Removing stress from the system and learning how to manage it effectively can help those with epilepsy greatly in avoiding possible seizures".
She also suggests, “Apart from that companies too should consider creating a stress-free culture and work environment. Such an environment leads to greater commitment, individual responsibility, creativity, productivity, profitability and a positive work environment. Government regulations also must enforce this towards the development of and a progressive nation. When human factors are taken care of, the progress of all sorts multiplies by manifolds. We are already experiencing effects of a narrow profit driven approach with a global epidemic level of lifestyle disorders effecting mankind.”
Hereditary epilepsy is another term that pops up as we talk about this disorder. Following which she says, “Earlier we were operating from a belief that the genetic structure is unchangeable but now epigenetics has proven otherwise. The genetic structure constantly regulates itself according to the physical, mental and environmental conditions. This way when we change the contributing factors towards a certain genetic disposition, we can also change the results it caused. I cannot comment specifically for epilepsy, but other disorders claim to be inherited, have been known to reverse through yogic interventions such as diabetes and hypertension”.
Lastly, she says, “Yoga can help in multiple ways – removing depression, a consistent state of wellbeing, thereafter, overcoming social, professional challenges related to it. Such conditions can be utilized to gain a deep understanding of how life functions within and outside. Eventually, these can result in a much more enriching life thereafter”.
Fortunately, our world is discovering these priceless techniques all over again, research is being conducted on them and they are being opened to the world as a gift. There have also been other researchers proving increase in levels of serotonin related to depression, dopamine related to Parkinson’s and more. Regarding a specific research, it would depend on the control group, parameters for measurement, what way the yoga practice was conducted; asanas or meditations, cleansing techniques were used and other factors to know and comment further. General exercise and gym are also known to reduce and reverse depressive symptoms. At a physical level, yoga (asanas) is a unique technique, which works on the physiology (internal organs and systems) as well as the anatomical (muscles, bones and joints) wellbeing whereas most others focus on the anatomical part, other advantage being left to chance as a by-product. Apart from that it is mainly a guide to the internal way of being (moods, thoughts, emotions, response system, habits, conduct) and external lifestyle practices (diet, nutrition, sleep, schedule). This is what truly prevents most health conditions or other issues in life and helps us overcome those, which exist helping us lead a healthy, happy and harmonious life.
