Page 59 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 130

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #130 November 2023 59

Yoga and the Mind

According to the Harvard Medical the four keys of yoga. Classes include more aware of the value within their
School, all exercise can boost your gentle chair-yoga movement, mindful families and communities. In all, the
Yoga mood bringing more oxygenated blood meditation, reflection, and discussion. workshop proved a success and I hope

Ro’s to your brain. But yoga may have Each week we reviewed the elements of to lead similar workshops in future.
additional benefits. It can affect mood selfcare and kindness for ourselves, and
For many reasons, the health of our
by elevating levels of a GABA, a brain the trick was “to do it for yourselves minds is as important as our physical
chemical associated with better mood first.” Taking moments to pause, listen
health. Personally, it’s about building
and decreased anxiety. Meditation also to others, and reflect before reacting.
By Rosanne Fortier resilience. Like an insurance policy,
reduces activity in the limbic system— We worked on how this practice lowers
it’s protection for my overall wellness,
the part of the brain dedicated to stress levels while improving our ability especially as a quinquagenarian
emotions. As your emotional reactivity to connect with others. Each week we (age 50-59). I keep in mind that any
diminishes, you have a more tempered reviewed and shared how applying
physical activity benefits my mental
response when faced with stressful these concepts affected our daily lives and emotional health and that these
situations. Yoga not only works to and the results were very interesting.
are interchangeable. Any time I spend
reduce stress, and may include improved Participants reported having less stress, improving my health is a step in the
executive functions such as reasoning, increased calmness, less rushing, taking right direction, and I hope I’ve provided
Photo Submitted important is building strength, balance, reaction time, and accuracy on tests of reserves. Practices also reduced anxiety yoga. Your body, mind, and nervous
decision making, memory, learning, time to rest before depleting energy
a good argument for the benefits of
regular yoga practice is not just
and recurring physical pain. Most
mental acuity.
system will thank you.
A about physical exercise. Just as
notable though was how it led the group
As the yoga instructor at the Seaway
Quote du Jour: “You cannot
and flexibility of your mind. Finding a Senior Community Centre, I recently
while becoming better listeners for
quietness within aims to create calmness led a four-week workshop, “The Four to making wiser choices for themselves, always control what goes on outside,
but you can always control what
and clarity by reducing stress patterns Keys of Yoga,” to cultivate kindness, others. With increased gratitude and goes on inside.” — Dr. Wayne Dyer
self-assurance, some noted their being
held in both the body and the mind. compassion, joy, and equanimity with

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