Those overalls I covet

In trust (and even more hope) that yoga promotes physical and mental wellness, I dedicated time and attention to breathing exercises and a some simple poses. 

I noted an increase in blood flow, which leads to an increase in oxygen access at the cellular level, after just a few poses. The sensation invigorated me. Also, the slowing and deepening of breathing relaxed my parasympathetic nervous system, adding to the benefit of the practice. 

A comprehensively analytical article, Yoga as a therapeutic intervention: A bibliometric analysis of published research studies notes, "Both short term and long-term practice of yoga techniques are

associated with reductions of basal cortisol and catecholamine secretion, a decrease in sympathetic activity, with a corresponding increase in parasympathetic activity." [accessed Oct 09 2017].(Available at this link)

The 20 minutes of yoga improved my mood and reduced my pain level. 

I aspire to persistent practice, having heard and read in multiple sources that yoga will improve well-being.  

I must just commit myself. Which is difficult to do on days where any movement, however simple, is painful and nauseating. I guess on those days, the breathing exercises are a starting point. And some seated poses. 

The following excerpt from a  July 2013 article by Katherine Griffin posted on the Yoga Journal website explains, when listing health benefits of yoga, how yoga practice is shown to relieve (or reduce) pain:

"1. Pain Reliever

Yoga shows promise as a treatment for relieving certain kinds of chronic pain. When German researchers compared Iyengar Yoga with a self-care exercise program among people with chronic neck pain, they found that yoga reduced pain scores by more than half. Examining yoga's effects on a different kind of chronic pain, UCLA researchers studied young women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, an often debilitating autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints. About half of those who took part in a six-week Iyengar Yoga program reported improvements in measures of pain, as well as in anxiety and depression."

The above listed article goes on to substantiate the claim by reporting, "Kim Innes, a Kundalini Yoga practitioner and a clinical associate professor at the University of Virginia, recently published a study on how yoga may benefit people who have a variety of health risk factors, including being overweight, sedentary, and at risk for type 2 diabetes. Forty-two people who had not practiced yoga within the previous year took part in an eight-week gentle Iyengar Yoga program; at the end of the program, more than 80 percent reported that they felt calmer and had better overall physical functioning" (If you would like to read the entire article click here.)

I am impressed by the idea that even low-intensity, or novice, practice results in a noticeable improvement in quality of life. I know that aspects of mainstream American culture still scoff at yoga practitioners, but I believe in yoga as a means to wellness.