Written by Aviva Tulasi
The World Health Organization defines health as complete well-being in terms of physical, mental and social, and not merely the absence of disease. Yoga with its mind-body approach can address all facets of healing. Meditation and breathing technique help develop awareness of the present moment, while yoga postures help maintain elastic fascia and muscle strength. Although yoga isn’t a miracle cure, yoga offers many tools to positively impact your health. As we have written in a previous blog, yoga studies show a link to boosting your immune system.
Your immune system protects you from harm. One of the jobs of the immune system is to send out inflammation to attack bacteria and heal damaged tissue. Inflammation heals. Despite the need for inflammation it has a bad name. There are lots of products out on the market today boasting their anti-inflammation powers. We have become a population bombarded with pollutants, allergens and stress, all of which signal the immune system to send out inflammatory responses without being sick or injured. According to a recent Chronic Inflammation report, 3 of 5 people worldwide die due to chronic inflammatory diseases like stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, heart disorders, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. In 2014 it was estimated that nearly 60% of Americans had at least one chronic condition, 42% had more than one and 12% of adults had 5 or more chronic conditions.
Yoga won’t cure diseases linked to inflammation, but many studies have pointed out that yoga is linked to the reduction of inflammation. Yoga provides a boost to your overall health as it improves various aspects of immune response. Yoga promotes the parasympathetic nervous system and teaches the body how to find balance between work and relaxation. A balanced nervous system reduces the load of the immune system so it can function efficiently. Along with the physical benefits to our body systems, yoga helps bring positivity into our lives. Perceived stress is reduced as you practice mindfulness and being in the present moment. In addition, yoga may be able to directly influence lower levels of inflammation through molecular reactions that decrease histone deacetylase genes, preventing unnecessary inflammation response to allergens.
Dogwood Studios is here to help you on your health journey. We have a variety of classes suited for all levels of intensity. In addition, we are hosting classes online and in person. Join a class that works for you.
As the weather continues to warm, we look forward to more opportunities to practice in person. In March, Dogwood Studio will return to hosting Yoga at the Garden on Tuesdays at 12 noon. You can sign up for an outdoor yoga class on the NC Botanical Garden Website.
Aviva Chaye Tulasi is a team member at Dogwood Studios. She is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). She applies the teachings of classical yoga to reduce the effects of negative stress and to balance the nervous system. Aviva is available for private sessions. Email Aviva at yogawithtulasi@gmail.com. She is here to help.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.