• Yoga Holiday with Paul
    • Algarve Retreat
    • Cyprus Retreat
  • Blog
  • Bio
  • Media
  • Teaching Schedule

yogawithpaul

~ Celebrating yoga and the body in motion

yogawithpaul

Tag Archives: quiet mind

Yoga for a Quiet Mind

07 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by yogawithpaul in about yoga, calming yoga, changing habits, concentration, daily yoga, London yoga teacher, mindfulness, philosophy of yoga, self-help, vinyasa yoga, yoga benefits, yoga mediation

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

calming yoga, Matthew Nisbet, meditation, mental health, pranayama, quiet mind, The Science of Yoga, William Broad, yoga benefits, yoga breathing, Yoga With Paul

Though often we focus on the physical aspect of yoga is as much a mental practice. Regular sessions, whether at home or in the studio, can help us achieve a quiet mind.

What does that mean? It means a mind that is at peace, accepting, aware of the moment without judgement. It means a mind that is able to acknowledge pain, confusion or difficulty without getting swept into those emotions. Yoga gives us this capacity by teaching us to breath — thereby calming our nervous system.

University professor Matthew C Nisbet wrote a great article on the science of yoga and how it quiets our mind. Breathing is key:

Compared to running, lifting weights, or other forms of exercise, it is yoga’s focus on controlled breathing that makes the practice unique, writes New York Times science journalist William Broad (2012) in The Science of Yoga. The focus on the breath is one reason studies consistently indicate that yoga in comparison to conventional exercise is more effective at managing feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety. Almost all forms of yoga emphasize Ujjayi pranayama, a style of slow breathing. When we breathe quickly, which often occurs when we experience stress or anxiety, carbon dioxide levels in our blood-stream decrease while oxygen levels stay the same. The imbalance produced by faster than normal breathing boosts the excitability of our nerves and muscles, producing muscle spasms and tingling in our extremities, which can trigger greater feelings of anxiety.

In contrast, the slow breathing emphasized in yoga practice increases carbon dioxide levels. In response, blood vessels in the brain dilate, sending more oxygen to the brain. By enabling our brains to absorb more oxygen, the slow breathing of yoga increases calmness and alertness, writes Broad.

Regular practice — especially daily pranayama — is a simple, holistic way to find peace in every day life.

 

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

YogaWithPaul Social

  • View @yogawithpaul’s profile on Twitter
  • View yogawithpaul’s profile on Instagram

Social

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow yogawithpaul on WordPress.com

Social

Blogroll

  • Cila Warncke Writer
  • Dharma Yoga Centre
  • Fancy A Stretch
  • Open Ocean Ibiza
  • Project Clean Food

Recent Posts

  • The Anjali Mudra December 6, 2019
  • Seasonal Food: Mushrooms December 3, 2019
  • 5 Simple Winter Intentions November 29, 2019
  • 4 Relaxing Upper-Body Yoga Poses November 26, 2019
  • Legacy of Yoga Teaching November 22, 2019

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel