Every now and then, research and studies are conducted to prove the benefits of practicing yoga. Recently, a research that was conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the United States, showed that yoga is capable of reducing stress by decreasing inflammation in the body. The best part of it all is that you won’t even need to spend hours daily if you do not have the time. A mere 12 minutes of daily practice for eight weeks already helps to make a difference.
A study was conducted on 45 caregivers for family members with dementia. They were divided into two separate groups. The first group performed a 12-minute yoga session on a daily basis for a total of eight weeks. As for the other group, they listened to relaxing music for 12 minutes daily for a total eight weeks as well. The researchers emphasised on a particular style of yoga known as Kirtan Kriya meditation, which revolves around meditation and chanting. In fact, Kirtan Kriya meditation originated from Kundalini yoga.
The study showed that the group involved in the yoga practice experienced a change in the response of 68 genes, which led to a decrease in inflammation. For those of you who aren’t aware, inflammation has been linked with numerous health problems such as heart disease, depression, and diabetes. “This is encouraging news. Caregivers often don’t have the time, energy, or contacts that could bring them a little relief from the stress of taking care of a loved one with dementia, so practicing a brief form of yogic meditation, which is easy to learn, is a useful tool,” explained Helen Lavretsky, the study researcher and a professor of psychiatry at UCLA.
Previously, another study was conducted by the UCLA researchers and Kirtan Kriya was found to be linked to lower the rates of depression and at the same time, improve the cognitive function when compared to other forms of relaxation. For the full article, feel free to check it out here.
One of the best thing about yoga is that it is suitable for all ages and health conditions. Furthermore, each style of yoga differs from the another. Hence, if you feel that a certain style is not to your liking, you can always go for a different style. At the same time, different forms of yoga will provide you with unique benefits. If you are looking for a vast selection of yoga classes in Singapore, do feel free to check out OMG Yoga at https://www.yogasingapore.net/ !