EFFECT OF
ASANAS ON DIFFERENT SYSTEMS
All postures
work on all systems of the body, so let us see some important systems
and how they are affected by practice of asanas.
Digestive
System: Provides nutrients to all the cells in the body,
energy to all the parts of the body, so functioning of the digestive
is important from nutrients point of view.
• Many asanas for example, various Forward Bends, backward bends,
various Spinal Twists, inverted poses strengthen the digestive organs
and muscles which support the organs.
• Natural health of digestive system is maintained with process
of efficient breathing – movement of diaphragm and abdominal
muscles, as this movement give a gentle massage to these important
digestive organs like liver, pancreas, spleen, and ensuring proper
blood flow and removing waste products effectively.
Circulatory
System Supplies the blood with nutrients and oxygen to all
the cells in the body.
• Many poses or postures have positive effects for Example:
Inverted postures – head stand, shoulder stand, wheel, plough,
viparit karani drain the impure blood from various parts of the body
and fresh blood is supplied which improves the health of these organs.
Forward bends, backward bends, twists also help improve the health
of the system.
• Incresed Efficiency of blood circulatory system due to asanas
can help varicose veins, inefficient peristalsis, valves in veins
not functioning, heart, menstruation problems and problems related
to impotency.
Respiratory
System:
• All the poses that exercise the respiratory muscles: Danurasana
etc.
• A healthy respiratory system requires three things:
1 - Strong, healthy lungs
2 - Strong respiratory muscles (Diaphragm & Intercostal muscles)
3 – A clear respiratory passage, free from mucus/ accumulated
wastes
• In order to strengthen the system many asanas like Peacock
Pose and Shalabhasana (Locust pose) expand the chest to the full extent
which helps in strengthening the lungs.
Nervous
and Endocrine system -
• Mind affects the Cortical activites which affect Hypothalamus
and then Pituitary gland and then other glands…
• A thought in the mind therefore affects the body through these
connections because of hormonal secretions.
• When you perform asanas, you try to focus on breath, various
body parts or infinity which is controlling the mind and taking it
away from the stressful thoughts and emotions, this balances the mind
resulting in calm and peaceful state.
• The reduced mental activity reduces cortex activity and increases
dopamine secretions in the blood. (Dopamine is happy neurotransmitter
produced by the brain and is repossible for happiness.)
• This sends positive signals to the hypothalamus which then
leads to more effective function of glands and hormone secretions.
• When the endocrine system functions properly, the whole body
benefits.
• This is what happens when you relax in a posture, mediate,
or perform yoga nidra
General Benefits
of Asana Practice:
• Corrects
emotional patterns – minimizes mental activity
• Stretches all body parts in different ways
• Bring Harmony into all body systems
• How you think makes your posture! Correct the posture to correct
your emotions!
• Optimization metabolism: minimizes catabolism (break down
of cells) and increase of anabolism (making new cells)
• Metabolism slows down overall because you increase the health
of every cell by providing proper supply of nutrients, removing waste
products efficiently.
• This increase in cell life then requires less energy from
the body and reverses aging.
