Nothing can help you reach a higher level of consciousness
faster than music. Supriya Sharma finds out how yoga classes, in India and
abroad, are using music to reach out to more people.
In a faintly lit room young yogis try and balance delicate
asanas to the tune of a sitar. The room vibrates with this coming together of
two ancient forms. As the class sways to yoga guru Zubin Atre's postures, the
accompanying sitarist Galen Passen does impromptu musical improvisations making
it a seamless flow of energies. Sitar yoga has caught the fancy of Delhiites,
who love this new concept of musical yoga sessions. "I have done
improvised jam sessions before, where a group of people play music, dance, and
sometimes do yoga simultaneously at my yoga studio. Passen and I improvised
together at one such session, and then the idea of sitar yoga followed,"
tells Atre.
Music can help lift students through difficult sequences
with upbeat music or create a restorative vibe with calm music. A soulful
musician can truly make a difference in creating the perfect atmosphere for a
class. Combining music with yoga is a famous practice abroad. Musician Todd
Boston fuses acoustic world instruments together to create a unique and
beautiful sound. With no pre-recorded tracks he mixes and blends the
instruments and his voice in harmony to create a musical journey of soulful,
heartfelt compositions. He has played at the Kundalini Yoga and Music Festival
in Rishikesh. Similarly, Yoga Soundscape is a unique yoga and music experience
curated and guided by Aarona Pichinson in New York. Every week, an eclectic
array of talented musicians, laptop masters, or DJs perform live soulful music
ranging from old-world tribal instrumental to experimental electronic beats for
classes filled with stretched-out breaths and sweaty patches! Source
Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is consists of Ancient Theories, observations and principles about the mind and body connection which is now being proven by modern medicine. Studies show that regular yoga regimen involving a variety of Yoga Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama), and Meditation can offer relief for patients suffering from asthma, chronic back pain, arthritis and obsessive compulsive disorder, among other problems.
The most important benefit of yoga is physical and mental therapy. According to medical scientists, yoga therapy is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body. Yoga acts both as a curative and precautionary therapy. The regular practice yoga helps in getting mental peace, improved concentration powers, a relaxed state of living.
Benefits of Yoga:
It increase Muscle flexibility and joint range of motion increase
Breath-holding time increases
Eye-hand coordination improves
It improves the dexterity skills
Posture improves
Strength and resiliency increase
Yoga increases Endurance and energy levels
Yoga regularizes the weight of our body
Yoga decreases insomnia and increases Immunity
Yoga improves blood circulation in our body and it provides healthier organs, skin, and brain.
Daily Yoga practice decreases blood pressure through better circulation and oxygenation of the body.
Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
EMG activity decreases
Cardiovascular efficiency increases
Respiratory efficiency increases
Gastrointestinal function normalizes
It normalizes the endocrine function
Yoga reduces spinal density and helps overall body alignment to reduce back pain.
Integrated functioning of body parts improves
Yoga has been used for disorders such as addictions, Asthma, Backache, Bronchitis, Cancer, Cold, Constipation, Depression, Emphysema, Eye strain, Flatulence, Headache, Heart Disorders, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Indigestion, Insomnia, Menstrual disorders, Migraines, Neurasthenia, Obesity, Premenstrual Tension, Prostate troubles, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Sexual debility etc.
Mental Benefits of Yoga
Yoga has a positive effect on learning efficiency and a better memory.
Through yoga self-acceptance and self-actualization increases
Social adjustment increases
Anxiety and Depression decreases
Regular practice of Yoga can result in better concentration and more motivation.
Well-being increases with yoga practice. The combination of creating a strong mind-body connection, creating a healthy body, and focusing inward can all lead to improvement in your mood.
Yoga reduces anxiety and depression
Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
Depth perception improves
Through Yoga meditation techniques calmness increases
Biochemical Benefits of Yoga
Yoga reduces the Glucose levels in the body
It reduces sodium levels in your body
Yoga promotes a strong lymphatic system and reduces toxins in your body
Yoga reduces cholesterol through increased blood circulation and burning extra fat. It is a great tool to fight against harmful cholesterol levels.
Triglycerides decrease
Yoga helps to regulate and control hormone secretion. An improved endocrine system keeps hormones in balance and promotes better health for you.
Cholinesterase increases
Catecholamine decrease
Hemoglobin increases
Lymphocyte count increases
Yoga increases the level of red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen through the blood. It decreases white blood cell count
Thyroxin increases
Vitamin C increases
Total serum protein increases. Yoga routine increases the vitamin C in your body. Vitamin C helps boost immunity, helps produce collagen, and is a powerful antioxidant.
