Yoga for Brain Health: Top 5 Poses to Try

One of the best ways to boost brain health is yoga. Practicing yoga regularly helps a person find his center and impacts the breathing pattern, thus relaxing the body and keeping you calm. It targets the vagus nerve, controlling mood and stress levels, thereby promoting mental health. 

Overall wellness is not just physical; it must also consider brain health. The human brain is responsible for bodily functions such as breathing, walking, thinking, etc. Just as the muscles are trained in physical exercise, the brain can also be trained to function better in cognition and more.

If you want to practice yoga for brain health, here are the top 5 poses to try.

Padmasana (Lotus Pose)

In Sanskrit, Padmasana means lotus flower, hence the Lotus Pose. It is a meditative pose with several benefits besides calming and relaxing the brain, so it works best when performed in the morning. 

In this asana, you will sit cross-legged with your feet on opposite thighs. This will activate and energize the abdomen, spine, bladder, and pelvis, making the hips more flexible by opening them up.

Ardha Matsyendrasana (Seated Twist Pose)

This asana stimulates the mind, body, and soul. The seated twist position massages the internal organs helping you flush out all the toxins. It will regulate the circulatory and digestive systems, helping you sleep better. 

Ardha Matsyendrasana is good for brain health as it detoxifies your body and helps alleviate stress, mild depression, and anxiety. It helps restore the spine’s alignment and boost its agility. 

Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)

The diamond pose is a kneeling position that can be performed even after meals. It increases concentration and memory power, keeping your mind calm and relaxed and making your body as strong as the “Vajra.

Other health benefits of the diamond pose are strengthening the sexual organ and strengthening pelvic muscles. 

Halasana (Plough Pose)

Halasan resembles a plow, an agricultural tool for preparing seeds. This asana is highly beneficial for the nervous system and helps rejuvenate the body and the mind.

The plow pose calms the brain and stimulates the abdominal organ and thyroid gland. It reduces stress and fatigue, making it therapeutic for backaches, headaches, and insomnia. 

Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

This asana engages the hips and bends the legs. This is one of the best yoga poses that promote brain health. It relieves stress and keeps you from negative emotions like anger and irritability while boosting cognitive performance, nourishing and energizing the brain.

Yoga poses are good for brain health. Different poses target different body organs, such as the nervous, digestive, and circulatory systems. Overall, as yoga calms the body, mind, and soul, brain health is improved, as well as reducing stress and anxiety for better mental health. 

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With these top 5 poses that you can try, you can start the journey to a healthier lifestyle. Generally, you need help to perform these poses quickly, and try and do these poses regularly to improve flexibility.