zandax online course logo
zandax website search
zandax phone callback
Info, Blogs, Contact & Login
Courses
Tests

Is Yoga Scientifically Proven to Help Reduce Stress?

From the ZandaX Stress Management Blog

Articles to help you reduce and control your stress

Home  >  ZandaX Blogs  >  Development Blog  >  Stress Management Articles  > 
Is Yoga Scientifically Proven to Help Reduce Stress?

Is Yoga Scientifically Proven to Help Reduce Stress?

A post from our Stress Management blog

Article author: Kerry Watts
      Written by Kerry Watts

Steve was like many of us – trying to juggle quality time with his family at home, a romantic connection with his wife, a successful career, and an active social life. Something was getting left behind – Steve wasn't taking any time for himself, and the stress was starting to build.

"I found myself shouting at my kids, and unable to focus at work. Some nights I would just toss and turn, unable to sleep because my heart was racing so fast. I thought that some sleeping pills or a course of anti anxiety meds might be in my near future, and I didn't like it."



Steve went to his doctor, explaining that he was unhappy with his stress levels at work, and looking for some guidance on how to shed a few kilos from his waist. He was surprised when his doctor suggested yoga classes rather than pulling out her scrip pad or sending him to the gym for cardio.

"My doctor recommended yoga classes, and I must admit that I was reluctant. After all, my wife goes to yoga before brunch with her girlfriends, and I always thought of it as a women's hobby. But, I agreed to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did."

Want to Manage your Stress Better?


If you'd like to learn more about . . . . . , why not take a look at how we can help?

Reduce your stress for a happier life with our online courses.
RRP from $89 – limited time offer just $16.00



The hard facts about stress and yoga

 Science is only now uncovering what yoga practitioners in Asia have known for millennia: yoga is seriously good for both your mind and body. While any form of exercise releases all kinds of positive hormones, neurotransmitters and endorphins, yoga adds in the added component of mindfulness. By focusing on each action and mindfully moving your body limb by limb, you connect with your mind, breath and physicality.

Still sound too ‘woo woo' and esoteric for you? Well, the science is crystal clear.

Research shows that we have two main aspects in our brain that react to stress. These are the emotional and cognitive functions, what some scientists call the emotional and logical brain. Your stress response is usually triggered by the emotional brain, which then sends adrenaline and cortisol into your entire body. Your logical brain then tries to turn off this emotional response to the stress, and can sometimes succeed in relaxing everything back to normal.

Studies have shown that yoga can actually train the stress circuit by helping the logical and emotional brains to work together. By staying still, balancing, and bending forward and backward, your logical brain is fired up and activated. Your emotional brain might start to stress and worry about the effort, but your logical brain takes over and helps you to perform the postures in sequence.

Just like with any muscle, your logical brain gets stronger with more practice. When you do yoga, you are training your logical sensibilities to override your potentially irrational emotional stress reaction. In this way, yoga can keep you calm and cool long after the class is over.

 Popular forms of yoga for stress and fitness



 Just as there are countless types of sport, there are countless types of yoga found throughout the world. Some are designed to relax and unwind the body, while others are meant to wake up the body and give your mind a big boost. No matter which style of yoga you choose, there is one thing for certain: this life changing exercise will reduce your stress levels.
  • Hatha Yoga – This is often the kind of class that beginners gravitate towards, as it can performed at any skill level. Teachers craft their own series of sun salutations, stretches, twists and inversions done both standing and seated, all capped off by time in ‘corpse pose' for a dose of final relaxation.
  • Power Yoga – Most yoga studios offer a highly charged, faster paced and more strenuous version of their Hatha classes, often called "Power Yoga" or "Vinyasa Flow." Rather than taking any small breaks or breathers between poses, an emphasis is placed on flowing through the movements in an unbroken series, raising the heart rate and building a sweat. Power Yoga is sometimes performed in a heated room.
  • Bikram Yoga – Named for controversial teacher Bikram Choudery, this is a tightly scripted series of 26 postures performed in a room heated to more than 40 degrees Celsius. Famous for its strenuous nature, brightly lit room and sweat soaked towels, Bikram Yoga can be a very serious workout indeed.
  • Yin Yoga – A Yin Yoga class consists of a series of long, slow, deep stretches that are held to the very edge of comfort. Designed to really lengthen and stretch muscles and ligaments, this class is often performed in low lighting or by candle.
  • Iyengar Yoga – Worried that you won't be able to get your body into the necessary positions? Unsure that you'll be able to use your own body's resistance to gain benefit from the postures? Iyengar yoga uses a series of tools, ropes, and other bolsters to help you to manipulate your body into the shapes it should be!
  • Restorative Yoga – How does an hour or so of deeply relaxing postures supported by pillows, bolsters and blankets sound? It's the most ultimately relaxing form of yoga, and a great way to bust any stress in your life.
While Steve was initially dubious about how yoga could help him or fit into his life, he is now half a stone lighter, far more flexible and feeling more calm and relaxed than ever before. His wife has noticed a boost in his energy levels in the bedroom, and he is able to focus on his career yet still maintain a successful work/life balance.

When asked now about his initial reluctance to practice yoga, he has this advice for any other guys out there like him: "Just give it a go. This is an intense work out, stress buster and toolkit for stress all in one."

If you have been considering a new routine to help you deal with the stressors in your life, it's time to give yoga a try.



Want to Manage your Stress Better?


If you'd like to learn more about . . . . . , why not take a look at how we can help?

Reduce your stress for a happier life with our online courses.
RRP from $89 – limited time offer just $16.00

Back to the Stress Management blog

Click the button for more Stress Management articles.

The ZandaX Personal Development blog

Click a panel for great articles on personal development

Write For Us

We pride ourselves on our busy, high-quality and helpful blog, and we're always looking for guest contributors to increase the variety and diversity of what we present.

Click to see how you can write for us with an original and well-written guest post.

ZandaX Blog Contents

Want to see them all? Click to view a full list of articles in our blogs.

Online courses to boost your skills
Click a button to see more about each course
Personal Development
Microsoft Software
 
 
Leadership & Management
Sales & Presentations
Service & Support
 
 
ZandaX online training course logo
ZandaX – Change Your Life ... Today
All content © ZandaX 2023
ZandaX LinkedIn logo
ZandaX LinkedIn logo
ZandaX LinkedIn logo
Close menu element
See how you score on a range of skills that are critical to your well-being and performance
Communication Skill test
Communication Skills
How Can You Communicate Better?
Would you like to see what kind of communicator you are? And how you can improve the effectiveness of your communications?
Likeability test
Likeability
How Much Do People Like You?
Do you sometimes wonder just how likeable you are? And wouldn't you like to see how you can (genuinely) become more likeable?


Time Management test
Time Management
How Can You Make More Use Of Your Time?
Are you frustrated by how easily time slips away? Do you get frustrated when things don't get done just because you run out of time?
Assertiveness test
Assertiveness
Are you Passive, Aggressive or Assertive?
Would you like to know where you fall on the behavior spectrum? Does your response to events sometimes surprise you?


Close menu element
Information & Resources
ZandaX information
Information
Read more about us, our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service
See how we want to help you, and how we make everything easy for everyone
Callback request
ZandaX Blogs
Articles to increase your knowledge and understanding in key areas of your life and career.
Read our blogs on Personal Development, Business Skills and Leadership & Management


Time Management test
Log In
Log in to your online dashboard
View your courses, review what you want and download your workbooks and certificates
Assertiveness test
Contact Us
An easy online form to get in touch
With options for More Information, Customer Service and Feedback


Close menu element
Develop Your Skills, Knowledge and Understanding with ZandaX
Click any subject in the listings for more information and a full list of courses

Personal Development
Personal Development training
Your soft skills affect everything you do, at work, at home and with friends ... they are truly life changing!
NEW COURSES
Online training courses
Hot Off the Press...
We're always adding to and upgrading our courses, so here are a few of our latest releases:
For a full listing of courses, please visit our Quick Course Finder to find exactly what you want.
Site Cookies
We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.

You can change your cookie settings in your browser. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue.

I'm fine with this