A study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presented in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health reveals that 20 minutes of yoga stimulates our brain functions.
“Yoga is an ancient Indian science and a way of life in its own right that includes not only movements and postures, but also a technique of breathing and meditation,” recalls the author, Neha Gothe, professor of kinesiology and medicine. Sport. “Its practice involves being in full consciousness”.
Researchers wanted to determine its health benefits, in particular its mental health benefits.
30 young, healthy students had to participate in a 20-minute yoga session. They performed sitting, standing and lying yoga postures with isometric contraction (muscle contraction during which the muscle length does not change), relaxation of different muscle groups and breathing exercises. They ended their session with a meditative posture and deep breathing.
For comparison, young women had to walk on a treadmill for 20 minutes at 60-70% of their time. maximum heart rate.
Yoga is great for the brain
Only the 20-minute yoga session significantly improved the reaction time and accuracy of participants in cognitive function tests.
Yoga therefore makes it possible to better stimulate one’s mental resources, to process information quickly and to memorize. Indeed, breathing and meditation exercises relax the mind and body and allow better concentration. Meditation and breathing exercises are also known to reduce anxiety and stress.
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