| Mounting scientific research continues to suggest that | | | | breathing, and after the first session. There was a |
| health, quality of life, and even the very length of life, | | | | significant fall in lactate levels after the yoga session, |
| are all profoundly affected by our mental and | | | | suggesting that it induces a state of relaxation. |
| emotional states. The emerging field of mind/body | | | | --Effect on Immune Function |
| medicine explains how our thoughts and emotions can | | | | The immune system protects us from disease. Natural |
| powerfully affect brain, endocrine (hormone), and | | | | killer (NK) cells are the surveillance cells of the immune |
| immune system function. | | | | system and are capable of destroying tumor cells as |
| This influence is facilitated by chemical messengers | | | | well as infected cells. NK cells were counted in the |
| called neuropeptides, which are released with ones' | | | | blood of three groups: yoga breathing practitioners, |
| every emotion. They are rapidly picked up by cells in | | | | normal individuals not practicing yoga breathing, and |
| the immune, endocrine, and autonomic nervous | | | | cancer patients in remission. NK cells were significantly |
| systems, and directly affect their functioning. When | | | | higher in the yoga breathing group than in either non |
| you learn about yoga breathing, it becomes clear how | | | | practicing individuals or in cancer patients in remission. |
| "positive" and "negative" feelings affect the whole | | | | The cancer patients then started to learn about yoga |
| system. | | | | breathing. After 3-6 months of regular practice, there |
| For example, feeling joy, love, and enthusiasm, | | | | was a significant increase in the cancer patients' NK |
| produces chemical messengers that can affect the | | | | cell count. This is particularly encouraging, since cancer |
| brain, endocrine, and immune systems in positive ways. | | | | survivors have abnormally low levels of NK cells, and |
| In contrast, "negative" emotions, such as anger, fear, | | | | NK cells are believed to be important in the bodys' |
| and sadness, produce chemicals that can adversely | | | | defense against new and recurring cancers. |
| affect them, resulting in less resistance to disease and | | | | --Effect on Antioxidant Enzymes |
| poorer overall health. This is how feeling stressed can | | | | The body is repeatedly exposed to environmental |
| lead to significant alterations in the physiology, and can | | | | pollutants, and its cells continuously produce normal |
| contribute to a broad range of diseases, ranging from | | | | metabolic byproducts. Both of these factors can result |
| cancer and cardiovascular disease to asthma, | | | | in the formation of free radicals. These react with |
| depression, and ulcers. | | | | oxygen and cause oxidant damage, contributing to |
| Learn About Yoga Breathing - The Best Process to | | | | many diseases, including cancer and such |
| Counter StressThe yogic science of breath is a | | | | cardiovascular diseases as heart disease and stroke. |
| precise, 5,000+ year-old science of health promotion. | | | | Levels of three major antioxidant enzymes were all |
| It is one of the first sciences to recognize the impact | | | | found to be significantly higher in yoga breathing |
| of mind and emotions on creating and restoring optimal | | | | practitioners than in the matched control group. |
| health. One of the most comprehensive yoga | | | | --Effect on Blood Cholesterol |
| breathing techniques is understood to use specific | | | | Psychosocial stress is a major contributor to |
| rhythms of breath to eliminate stress, support the | | | | hypertension and coronary heart disease |
| various organs and systems within the body, transform | | | | In CHD, deposits of LDL cholesterol, fat, and other |
| overpowering emotions, and restore peace of mind. | | | | substances on the arterial walls slow or block the flow |
| Research Summary | | | | of blood, resulting in heart malfunction. A study was |
| Following is a summary of some key findings of the | | | | conducted to assess the cholesterol levels of |
| many studies done by modern medical science at | | | | individuals before they learned about yoga breathing, |
| hospitals and research institutions: | | | | as well as after 7 and 45 days of regular practice. |
| --Improved Brain Function | | | | Significant drops in total cholesterol and LDL (harmful) |
| Brain function was measured and compared through | | | | cholesterol, as well as increases in HDL (beneficial) |
| EEG (electroencephalogram)changes on yoga and | | | | cholesterol were observed. |
| non yoga breathing practitioners. Practitioners displayed | | | | --Effect on Depression |
| significantly greater mental alertness (beta activity) | | | | Yoga Breathing has been shown to have a 68%-73% |
| than the control group. | | | | success rate in the treatment of depression, |
| --Significant Falls in Cortisol, the "Stress Hormone" | | | | regardless of severity. Relief from depression, |
| In one study, blood cortisol, known as the "stress | | | | determined by psychiatric evaluation was experienced |
| hormone", was measured in a control group and the | | | | within three weeks. At the three-month follow-ups, |
| yoga practitioners. The significant fall in serum cortisol | | | | patients remained stable and in remission. |
| levels among the beginning and regular practitioners, | | | | Conclusions -- Just One: Learn About Yoga Breathing! |
| suggests that regular practice of yoga breathing | | | | The subjective reports of increased health, vitality, well |
| progressively develops greater levels of both | | | | being, and peace of mind by thousands of yoga |
| relaxation and resilience to stress. | | | | breathing practitioners are consistent with research |
| --Effect on Blood Lactate | | | | findings to date, which suggest an overall strengthening |
| Blood lactate is another biochemical measure of | | | | of the mind/body system. Thus, even though further |
| stress. Participants in police training constitute a highly | | | | studies are needed, these findings point to the |
| stressed group. They undergo intense physical and | | | | powerful health restoration and promotion effects of |
| emotional training daily. Blood lactate was measured in | | | | these time-honored practices. |
| 10 such individuals, both before learning about yoga | | | | |