The Science Of Yoga And Meditation

Do you have a meditation app on your phone right now? What about yoga, have you stepped into a studio lately? Odds are pretty high that at least one of these practices are on your radar. As meditation and yoga become more and more popular in the US, more of their centuries-old benefits are coming to light.

Most of us know that these practices make us feel good - that’s why we do them, after all - but how do they work? Here’s what to know about the benefits of yoga and meditation, and the science behind all the perks.

No, you’re not imagining that light-as-air feeling when you glide out of yoga class. Research has found that yoga can decrease the amount of cortisol (also known as the stress hormone), that your body releases, which can make you feel a lot more even-keeled.

Yoga has also been found to ease anxiety and even drastically reduce symptoms of PTSD in some suffers who practice it. In one study, 34 women with an anxiety disorder saw a decrease in anxiety after two months of practicing yoga twice a week.

Not surprisingly, meditation can also have a powerful impact on emotional wellbeing. Numerous studies point to meditation being capable of reducing stress and anxiety, whether by potentially slow down our body’s physical stress response or helping us “train” our minds to process stressful situations differently.

The physical benefits of yoga might seem like a given, but would you believe us if we told you that meditation has physical perks too? Yep, even if you practice by sitting completely still on a pillow. According to some research, meditation may help ease symptoms of stress-related health issues like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome. It can also aid in managing pain and decreasing blood pressure.

Meditation also can also strengthen your brain by increasing how long you can focus at work. Some scientists even believe that meditation can reverse brain patterns that play a big role in getting distracted when we’re trying to focus. One study found that a team of coworkers who practiced mindfulness meditation were able to focus longer, and were better able to remember details of their work to-dos. Meditation may even be able to reduce memory issues that can crop up as we age.

Most avid yogis won’t be surprised to hear that regularly practicing can play a wonderful role in managing chronic pain, anyone who’s ever worked on feats like the one-handed tree pose knows that yoga can be a huge boost for your strength and flexibility.

That said, studies have also found that yoga has other, less-expected health benefits. Yoga may ease migraines and could have a positive impact on your heart health by potentially lowering your blood pressure, helping manage cholesterol, and possibly even slowing the progress of heart disease. Experts aren’t clear just how much of these benefits have to do with yoga versus some of the positive lifestyle habits that often go hand-in-hand with the practice, like eating healthy foods and better stress-coping mechanisms. That said, it’s definitely exciting news.

Whether your “why” for practicing yoga and meditation is one of the benefits above or a joy that’s totally unique to you, it can definitely bring all kinds of positives into your life.

If you’re new to either practice, the most important thing to remember is this: there’s no right or wrong way. Be gentle with yourself, and don’t be afraid to try several styles of each practice until you find what works for you.

Take things one step at a time, because even just a few minutes of yoga or meditation each day can lead to all kinds of positive transformations.