When you hear the word yoga, many people think of physical exercises and meditation. But that's not all. Yoga can actually do a lot: tone the body, calm the mind, or help you find your innermost core.
A study from the USA now shows that yoga also sharpens the mind. The research team led by Neha Gothe from the University of Illinois was able to show that study participants completed cognitive tests faster and more accurately than the control group after 20 minutes of classical yoga exercises.
A study group of 30 young women performed various physical exercises. The yoga group performed standing, sitting, and lying exercises with focused breathing, meditative postures, and deep breathing. The control group walked or jogged on a treadmill for 20 minutes in the aerobic range at 60-70% of their maximum heart rate.
Before and after the programs, the women completed cognitive tasks that assessed working memory function and attention to errors. The yoga participants were able to focus their minds better and process facts faster and more accurately after the yoga exercises. They were also able to learn, retain, and update information faster and more effectively than the other training group.
Short exercise for the office:
Sit comfortably in an upright position. Fold the index finger, ring finger, and middle finger of your right hand so that only the thumb and little finger remain. Gently place your thumb against your right nostril and your little finger against the left. Close your eyes. Gently close your left nostril with your finger and breathe in slowly through the right. Hold your breath briefly. Now close your right nostril with your thumb and breathe out and in completely through the left. Pause for a breath. Close your left nostril again and breathe out and in through the right. Pause for a breath. Continue this alternation for a few minutes. You will notice: your head feels freed and you can concentrate better.
