NeuroYoga
Yoga is a group of physical and mental practices that have originated in ancient India. Initially a spiritual practice, yoga has quickly developed into a method of promoting physical and mental wellness. Consisting of many different elements yoga emphasizes physical postures, known as asana, breathing techniques, known as pranayama and meditation. Research suggests that yoga may help in relieving stress, improving mental and emotional health, and improving sleep behaviors.
Jonathan Rosenthal is a resident physician at the NYU School of Medicine. Additionally, Rosenthal is a yoga instructor, studying with Sri Dharma Mittra. He developed “NeuroYoga”, an initiative where participants practice yoga postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation. After the session, the participants attend a lecture of neuroanatomy and its relation to yoga to determine what biological changes happen that make “... yoga so effective in bringing about radiant health, mental sharpness, and peace of mind....”
Rosenthal recently shared a post on his Instagram page discussing his work:
“...I’ve been pondering yoga’s effects on my brain as I process the emotions from COVID-19. I took to the scientific literature to reflect on this.
First, some basic neuroanatomy. Emotional processing, especially fear and anxiety, localizes to the amygdala, a structure deep in the brain (labeled in dark blue). Mind-regulation processing, especially as practiced in yoga and meditation, localizes the prefrontal cortex (in orange). For this post, I want to focus on the relationship between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala.
There is a body of work that suggests the ability to regulate emotions depends on the prefrontal cortex neurons directly connecting with the neurons of the amygdala, and attenuating the hyperactive neural responses there that underlie fear and anxiety.
Can you modify the interconnectedness of the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala through practicing? The evidence suggests yes. For example, in a study of 26 subjects undergoing fMRI, paying attention to the breath increased amygdala-prefrontal integration, and decreased intrinsic amygdala activity. Further, those with more meditation experience had a stronger coupling of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, and stronger suppression of amygdala activity. (https://tinyurl.com/ub6berr)
Yup, I feel fear and anxiety, especially when over a thousand patients fill our hospitals in a flash. The scientific evidence is that yoga helps me temper those feelings….”
You can learn more about NeuroYoga by following @neuroyoganyc on Instagram or emailing neuroyoganyc@gmail.com
References:
Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Klose, P., Lange, S., Langhorst, J., & Dobos, G. J. (2017, January 3). Yoga for improving health-related quality of life, mental health and cancer-related symptoms in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28045199
Domingues, R. B. (2018, May). Modern postural yoga as a mental health promoting tool: A systematic review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29705463
Yoga: What You Need To Know. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga-what-you-need-to-know