Why Yoga in Neurological cases?
Brain cells are non- regenerative cells, Right? Then …What makes people recover from stroke,
MS or insult to the brain? We have learned through our practice seeing many
neurological cases and many researchers have proven it. Whenever we talk about
recovery in stroke or neurological insult cases, we need a repetitive and
functional-based task to help to regain function. Functional task needs
concentration and helps to fire the area of the brain which eventually helps to
do a similar task. So the brain relearns the pattern which was damaged and the neighbourhood
area takes over which is called Neuroplasticity or Motor Relearning.
Yoga helps to focus, improve concentration and allowed relearning. In
any Neurological insult, the central nervous system suffers in one or the other
way. The Brain is like an electrical organ with many neuronal circuits that
fire synchronously to carry out any activity effectively. As in brain injury
cases, these circuits don’t work together and lead functional impairment which
further causes depression due to inability to be independent again as previous
to the injury. This all linked up together with anxiety, stress developing
shallow breathing and low oxygen to the brain.
Yoga and Breathing Concept
Yoga gives natural breathing with mind and body relations. When the body
is moving in space, the brain is activated to focus on where the body part is
and thus increase the somatosensory pathways and provide sensory-motor
feedback. With controlled breathing, the brain gets proper oxygen and helps in
Neural Plasticity.
Yoga and relaxation.
With guided movement and relaxed mind, the Vagus nerve is activated
which increases the parasympathetic system and thus provides mental calmness.
“Neurons
that fire together wire together”
(Hebbian Theory)
Himani Prajapati and Rashmikant Shah
( Neurophysiotherapists team – At HEALTHY FUTURE)
