Introduction:
Yoga helps increase blood circulation, respiration, and bodily movement and improves mobility. It also improves awareness of the body and mind. It helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Yoga helps in improving overall function and keeps the body and mind alert. It helps in reducing pain and increases the strength of muscles and the body. It also helps in improving the functions of the brain. Thus it can also help in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
What Is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition that causes brain atrophy and the death of brain cells. The most common associated symptom of Alzheimer's disease is dementia or memory loss. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include gradual memory loss, decreased communication skills, reduced ability to think, and difficulty in carrying out routine activities. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but yoga can improve the symptoms and help prevent Alzheimer's disease and improve the quality of life.
How Yoga Helps in Preventing Alzheimer's Disease?
Yoga helps in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression and also helps in increasing memory. Yoga asanas and meditation techniques are effective for memory loss and other forms of dementia because they engage different parts of the brain cells. Different yoga poses, meditation, and breathing techniques help concentrate the mind and body, create a new connection in the brain cells, and decrease memory loss or dementia. This will help in preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Which Are the Yoga Poses That Help in Preventing Alzheimer's Disease?
Yoga poses that help in preventing Alzheimer's disease and reducing the symptom associated with Alzheimer's disease include the following -
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Vajrasana or Thunderbolt Pose, or Diamond Pose - Start from the tabletop position by keeping the hands and knees on the floor. Slowly bend the knees and sit on the heels of the feet. Keep the spine erect and place both hands above the knee or the thighs. Take deep breaths and return to normal position. Vajrasana or thunderbolt pose helps calm the mind, reduces acidity in the digestive system, reduces pain in the knees and back region, strengthens the thigh and back muscles, and helps relieve urinary problems.
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Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose - Sit straight on the floor in a cross-legged position, keeping the spine erect and both hands resting on the knees. Close the eyes and take deep breaths while keeping the spine straight, the toes should be tucked inside the thighs, and the knees should be kept wide. This siddhasana, or accomplished pose, is the ideal position for meditation techniques. It increases the flexibility of the hips and thigh muscles. It also helps in lengthening the spine and improving posture. It will help keep the mind alert by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
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Paschimottanasana or Seated Forward-Bend - Sit straight on the floor by keeping the legs stretched forward. Slowly bend forward by touching the head to the knees and pressing the chest against the thighs. Place both hands straight and touch the toes or the angle of the leg. Hold this position for a few seconds, take deep breaths, and return to normal. Continue these steps four to five times. A seated forward bend helps in reducing diabetes and high blood pressure. This helps calm the body and relax the mind, reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. It will increase blood circulation to the head, thereby increasing the relaxation of the mind and body and reducing insomnia or sleeplessness.
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Vrikshasana or Tree Pose - Stand straight on the floor by keeping the feet apart and both hands beside the body on both sides. Slowly bend the right knee and keep it on the medial side of the left thigh. Balance on one leg and slowly lift the hands above the head in a folding position. Keep the hands directly upward above the head. Take deep breaths, return to normal position, and repeat these steps on the opposite side. This tree pose, or vrikshasana, helps increase the mind and body balance. It helps in strengthening the bones present in the leg and hips. It helps in shifting the body weight to each leg which helps the bones, ligaments, and tendons present in the leg to strengthen.
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Shirshasana or Headstand - Start by keeping the palms and knees on the floor and keep the top of the head on a mat. Place the palms on the floor and bend the arms at 90 degrees with the elbows. Lift the knees slowly and slowly walk the feet towards the front. Slowly lift the left leg and align it with the upper part of the body. Balance and slowly lift the right leg. Keep the toes pointed towards the roof. Hold in this position for 2o to 30 seconds. Relax and return to the normal position. This headstand or shirshasana helps stimulate and increase blood circulation to various endocrine glands and the brain, thereby increasing the body's overall performance. It also helps increase the strength of the upper body and improve stamina.
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Uttanpadasana or Raised Leg Pose - Lie down straight on the floor by keeping the leg stretched and both hands beside the body on both sides, keeping the palms downwards. Slowly lift the legs perpendicular to the floor and keep the toes and feet stretched upwards. Take deep breaths and hold in this position for a few seconds and return to the normal position. This raised leg pose helps in reducing acidity and other digestive problems. It also helps in decreasing the pain present in the back muscles.
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Halasana or Plow Pose - Lie down straight on the floor, keeping both hands beside the body. Bend the knees towards the chest and straighten the legs towards the ceiling. Raise the hip from the floor with support with the hands on the back and bring the legs backward over the head until it touches the ground. Release the hand from the hip and place it on the floor facing the palms. The body's weight should be concentrated on the shoulder and neck muscles. Hold in this position for five breaths. Relax, return to normal position, and repeat the steps four to five times. This pose helps reduce back pain, sleeplessness, sinus infection, etc.
Conclusion:
Yoga asana helps increase the body's flexibility, strength, and balance. Pranayama helps activate the sympathetic response, reducing stress and anxiety, and helps in relaxing and calming the mind and body. It can also help improve the sleep cycle and reduce sleeplessness or insomnia. Meditation can focus the mind and result in mental clarity and peacefulness. Various chanting methods are associated with yoga, which can help calm the mind and connect the body with the inner mind.
