PERFORMING ASANAS
Asanas are body postures. The body postures should be performed deliberately, with awareness and a lot of patience. The benefits of performing asanas or body postures are numerous.
To mention some: therapeutically, gentle movements and expansions can reduce swelling in the joints increasing joint mobility, expand strength of the muscles and bones. Keeping a body position for a certain time the muscles are relaxed and the deepest muscle layers are opened. This will then influence the bones, joints and spine making them more open, stronger and more flexible. The mobility of spine is extremely important.
One of the most valued benefit of the practice of asanas is a balance between the nervous systems.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system includes three parts: the sympathetic, parasympathetic and the enteric nervous system.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system regulate the working of almost all organs in the body, muscles and glands. They work in opposition to each other: the sympathetic nervous system is the one which controls the „fight or flight“ responses of the body and the parasympathetic nervous system the „rest and digest“ functions of the body.
The functions of both nervous systems are involuntary but with practice of Hatha Yoga even those functions can be brought under control.
Effect of Asanas on Nervous System
Unlike Raja Yoga or the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali which mentions mostly meditational postures, a texts on Hatha Yoga describe numerous postures.
To mention only one asana and the benefits of its practice.
The longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system (and the second largest in the whole body) is a vagus nerve. This nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system which calms down the whole system.
Performing forward bend in combination with slow breathing the vagus nerve will be stimulated therewith the parasympathetic nervous system. This stimulation will reduce the heart rate. Low heart rate will calm the mind and it will reduce stress which is a cause of many diseases. A tranquil mind will be able to act and react, to see and solve the problems of every day life much easier than an exaggerated mind as the power definitely lies in the tranquility not in a hectic.
The forward bend, Pashchimottanasana, also balances the enteric nervous system, a “second brain”. It is a system of nerve cells which begins in the esophagus and is ingrained into complete digestive system. The balanced enteric nervous system brings the physical, emotional and mental digestion into balance and removes blocks teaching you to let go and to go with the flow.
Hormones and the Practice of Asanas
While performing the asanas the level of the endorphin rises. It is a chemical in the brain and spinal cord which is involved in the positive feelings in the body It also reduces fears, anxiety and it is a natural pain killer.
The endorphin is a endogenous opioid, the term opioid refers to any opium or similar drug, endo means inside and genis coming from. Unlike exogenous opioids, which are pharmaceutical or street drugs that must be taken from outside, endorphin exist naturally in the body and due practice of asanas provides sense of pleasure, happiness and it calms the mind in a most natural way without harming the body-mind system.
Practice of asanas normalizes the blood pressure (this is the result of research done in the classes with seniors I was teaching) and cholesterol, improves respiration, blood circulation and the absorption of oxygen, changes the secretion of endocrine glands such as the pancreas, thyroid, adrenaline glands, which affects the behavior of the people.
My recommendation is, once you start practicing yoga postures, practice regularly and do not stop. It has a lot of benefits. Your practice will bring you exactly there where you should be.