Nervous System Effects

Yoga’s impact on the nervous system is a key factor related to many other effects.

Yoga reduces chronic stress, helping to prevent and/or manage stress-related diseases (e.g. heart disease, hypertension, and digestive disorders).
Yoga is also an aid for other conditions that are caused or exacerbated by stress (e.g. anxiety and depression).
Stress management helps reduce inflammation which may address inflammation-related problems (e.g. most forms of arthritis and gastrointestinal conditions).

Build Methodically & Mindfully

The main routines in yoga’s repertoire for stress management are breathing exercises, guided imagery, and relaxation exercises. For persons with elevated blood pressure or hypertension controlled by medication, breathing exercises should be done in a reclining position until a degree of breath control is gained. When you can willfully diminish your normal respiratory rate by one-third for two minutes, you can begin normal yoga pranayama exercises in a seated position. In other words, if your normal breath is 15 cycles per minute, you must reduce it to 10 cycles per minute for two minutes before seated practice is recommended. – Mukunda Stiles