Learning to breathe fully, and exercising your respiratory muscles, are key to healthy aging. We take the ability to breathe freely and fully for granted. However, like other muscles in the body, the respiratory muscles become weak and less efficient with age, if they are not sufficiently exercised. This is particularly true for the muscles responsible for inhalation, i.e. the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles. Imagine having to continuously struggle to catch your breath!

Research finds that regular yoga practice may curb symptoms of depression and alter important stress-related biomarkers. Depression impacts 17 million American adults annually, often contributing to severe impairments in physical and social functioning. Women are roughly 2 times more likely to suffer from depressive disorders including major depression and dysthymia. Research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine suggests that a 12-week yoga inter

The field of yoga research has boomed in the past decade. This means that we are learning far more about why and how yoga works (and doesn’t work) than we have ever had before. This is exciting news for the millions of yoga practitioners, educators and therapists interested in using the principles of yoga to attain health and wellbeing. Several years ago when I wrote the article, Why Yoga Research Has A Long Way to Go, many yoga studies were low in quality, suffering from sma

A new review of the published research finds that mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga may alter gene expression linked to stress and inflammation. We all know that persistent stress damages the body, mind and brain. In large part, this occurs because stress activates the immune system, mobilizing the body’s natural defenses. Scientific evidence shows that prolonged stress is linked to changes in DNA responsible for inflammation and immune system burnout, increasing

Can yoga and meditation help stave off cognitive decline and increase your brain’s efficiency and resilience? A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, says the answer may be yes. An international team of researchers examined the brain functioning of 47, healthy middle-aged yoga and meditation practitioners and normal controls to see whether the groups differed in fluid intelligence, resilience, function and efficiency. Participants included 16 yoga practitioners

Neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s impact millions world-wide. A recent review published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience finds that yoga may be an effective adjunctive treatment. Yoga and other mind-body therapies are unique in that they combine breathing exercises with movement and meditation. Emerging research finds that these practices may impact brain structures and neural networks, as well as the aut

There has been an ongoing debate regarding yoga’s ability to improve cardiovascular and physical fitness. A new study suggests that, for sedentary college students, regular Vinyasa yoga practice may boost both fitness and mental health, and reduce stress. In the study, researchers tested the hypothesis that yogis who performed sun salutations that increased their heart rate into cardiac endurance zones, would demonstrate physical and heart health benefits. They randomly assig

New research finds that type of meditation practiced may impact brain, stress level, and behavior in different ways. Originally published October 19, 2017 at Mindful.org A growing body of research suggests meditation can positively impact our health and wellbeing. But are all forms of mindfulness practice equally beneficial? In groundbreaking research, a team of scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany reveal that mental training geared toward attention, compassion,

One of yoga’s known benefits is its ability to relieve chronic low back pain. But is it as effective as physical therapy (PT) for underserved populations with more severe levels of pain and disability? New research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine provides the answer. In this 52-week study, researchers from Boston University randomly assigned 320 ethnically diverse adults (age 18-64) with chronic low back pain receiving treatment at a local hospital or health cent

Yoga therapy may alleviate symptoms of breast cancer treatment, and improve quality of life new review of the research shows. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide, with nearly 2 million women and men being diagnosed each year. Even though survival rates continue to climb, the impact of the disease and its treatment can be both physically and mentally challenging. A review of the research finds that yoga therapy may help to effectively alleviate depression

Can yoga slow down the rate of cognitive decline? New study provides hope. Aging is linked to changes in brain structure and function that may lead to cognitive decline and dementia. New research published in Frontiers of Aging Neuroscience reveals potentially significant brain benefits of yoga for elderly women who practice regularly. There are a number of changes that occur as our brains age that increase the likelihood that we will forget where we put our keys or parked ou

A manual-based yoga program may ease cognitive decline in older adults. As the global baby boomer population continues to age, there is a greater need for strategies to prevent or reduce cognitive decline and dementia. Emerging research suggests that a manual-based yoga program may improve memory, executive function, and mood in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive decline occurs in approximately 10-20% of older adults. Often seen as a normal byproduct

New study points to benefits of challenges of providing yoga instruction to military veterans with post traumatic stress. Approximately 23% of military veterans are estimated to suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which often include nightmares, flashbacks, heightened reactivity to environmental situations, social isolation, anxiety, and depression. Many adults with PTSD may not experience long-term relief from treatments like psychotherapy or medic

Canadian researchers have discovered that other people’s stress can alter your brain as much as real stress. We all know that chronic stress is bad for us. Research just published in the journal Nature Neuroscience shows that other people’s stress can change our brains in the same ways that real stress can. The effects of stress are widespread. Psychologically, stress is tied to depression, anxiety disorders, and PTSD. Physically, chronic stress is linked to inflammation that

If you practice yoga, teach, or are thinking about starting it's important to understand what most instructors can and can't do for you. A large proportion of yoga students come to the mat with some sort of physical problem, be it an injury or illness, chronic pain, a tight neck and shoulders, bad knees, a hip replacement, or a sore back. Many have heard that yoga can help relieve physical issues like back pain, or reduce stress and ease emotional problems. But when it comes

Can yoga, meditation, and a healthy lifestyle help stave off age-related declines in memory, concentration, and information processing, and improve the ability to regulate thoughts and emotions? Groundbreaking new research exploring the interface of yoga, meditation, and brain science suggests that these and other strategies may keep your brain fit. For nearly a century, scientists believed that the trillions of brain cells that you’re born with are pruned and eventually die,

Should postures be eliminated from therapeutic yoga? How erroneous assumptions make for unfortunately conclusions. Are current yoga therapy strategies, practices and programs living up to their intended purpose? A recent critique of yoga therapy in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health tackles this thorny but important question. Although well-intentioned, the article’s fundamentally inaccurate portrayal of yoga therapy sets it on a misguided course that leaves many

What does the research on the impact of yoga tell us, and what remains unknown? As a scientist it is my nature to be somewhat of a skeptic. Skepticism isn’t about negativity. It means having a certain degree of discriminative awareness, particular when reviewing research. I am also a yoga teacher, educator and therapist. I have a lot of first-hand anecdotal experience with the benefits of yoga practice, both personally and professionally. And indeed, some of that experience c

Will the future of back pain treatment involve practices like yoga and meditation? A recent comprehensive report reviewing the current research and its impact brings us one step closer to that reality. The report, sponsored by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) found that not only are yoga and meditation beneficial for relieving chronic low back pain, but that these practices are more cost effective than surgery or medication. Low back pain is among the lea

With all of the talk of mindfulness it can be hard to disentangle what is most important. Here are 3 mindfulness-based principles that will change your life. Everywhere I go people are talking about mindfulness. It’s been touted as a cure for aches, pains and mental illness, and the secret sauce that gives entrepreneurs and Super Bowl athletes their edge. I often get asked what mindfulness is and how to practice it. Sure, we’ve all heard that it means living in the present mo