Brain power made easy

The Asian Age.  | Dr Athira Thampy

Practising these yoga asanas can help one fight Alzheimer’s Disease.

Bhramari Pranayama (Bee breathing).

Memory power is essential for thinking, planning and analysing. Memory is the tool with which the mind stores and remembers information. The brain is the core organ that retrieves information and there are 100 billion neurons that pass signals to each other. Memory power reduces when there is insufficient nutrition and exercise, stress, or deficiency of oxygen supply. Yoga asanas play a significant role in enhancing memory by increasing the efficiency of the brain. Yoga helps to relieve stress and also triggers better cognitive function. Here are some asanas to increase memory power. 

Bhramari Pranayama 
(Bee breathing)

This asana releases negative emotions like anger, agitation, frustration, and anxiety. It improves concentration and memory as well as builds confidence. Place your index fingers on the cartilage in your ears. While pressing it, make a humming sound like a bee.

Paschimottanasana 
(Seated forward bend)

It stretches the spine and helps relieve stress. It relaxes the mind by removing negative emotions like irritability and anger. For this pose, come onto the floor on your hands and knees. Set your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms and keep your index fingers parallel or slightly turned out and turn your toes under. Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor. At first, keep the knees slightly bent and the heels lifted away from the floor. Straighten your knees. Keep the head between the upper arms; don’t let it hang.

 

Vajrasana
This is one of the basic yoga poses. You must first kneel on the floor. Your toes should touch your buttocks and your knees must be parallel to your toes. Place your palms on the knees and keep your spine straight. Just like in other poses, close your eyes and relax. This asana effectively increases your memory, concentration level and analytical skills. 

Tree Stand Pose
Stand straight, stretch your hands up and join your palms together. Fold your left leg from the knee and place your feet on the inner side of your right thigh. Close your eyes and relax. Control your breathing while you are in this pose. It enables your brain to calm down and increases the intensity of concentration.

Nadisudhi Pranayama (Channel cleaning breath)
As you breathe in and out, your heart rate drops.

This asana enhances energy flow in the body.

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