Kathmandu, December 29

A recent study claimed that yoga enhances the brain structures and functions. Such benefits are similar as that of aerobic exercise.

Although, scientific studies have proved that aerobic exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new neurons, but very few studies focused on how yoga affects the brain.

However, recent review, published in the journal Brain Plasticity, focused on 11 studies of the relationship between yoga practice and brain health. Five of the studies engaged individuals with no background in yoga practice in one or more yoga sessions per week over a period of 10-24 weeks, comparing brain health at the beginning and end of the intervention. The other studies measured brain differences between individuals who regularly practice yoga and those who don't, as per Science Today.

Each of the studies used brain-imaging techniques such as MRI, functional MRI or single-photon emission computerized tomography. All involved Hatha yoga, which includes body movements, meditation and breathing exercises.

"From these 11 studies, we identified some brain regions that consistently come up, and they are surprisingly not very different from what we see with exercise research," said University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Neha Gothe, who led the research with Wayne State University psychology professor Jessica Damoiseaux, as quoted by Science Today.

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