What is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient modality that culturally originated in India. Yoga includes philosophical and ethical principles, physical movements, breathing techniques, and mediation practices. The tradition of yoga co-evolved alongside the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It also co-evolved alongside the ancient Indian traditional medicine called Ayurveda, which sees human health holistically, inclusive of mind, body, and spirit. Yoga inherits many principles from all of these traditions and offers methods for finding ease and joy in life. The physical practices of yoga are particularly popular in Western culture, called “asana”, and offer what I think of as physical therapy for the Autonomic Nervous System. When practiced mindfully, yoga asana can relieve tension, improve mood, and create a sense of well being. 

Yoga offers “vagal tone” and develops interoceptive awareness. What is vagal tone? The Vagal Nerve is one of our 12 cranial nerves and is believed to be responsible for our parasympathetic (rest and digest) activation in the body.   

Yoga Research has shown the practice of yoga can reduce symptoms of PTSD and decrease anxiety, improve mood, and improve sleep.