The brain is like a superhero that works tirelessly for you to help you navigate the world. The Brain allows you to carry out daily tasks, from brushing your teeth to solving the most difficult math equation. And amazingly, it is the only thing that helped you to read and understand this content right now! But have you ever realized how important it is to take care of your brain? That’s where yoga for brain plays a crucial role. In this blog, we will explore the best yoga exercises for brain, along with the steps and contraindications of each asana. Get ready to discover how performing a few yoga asanas can make your brain power sharper and healthier!
Understanding the Importance of Brain Health
With more and more people suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, mood swings, eating disorders, anxiety, ADHD, and behavioral issues, taking care of our brains has become very important. The brain is the most important part of our body, as it governs all the systems of our body. Moreover, our brain plays a big role in how we feel and react emotionally. Just like you think of being physically fit, it’s equally important to take care of your mental health as well. If you have a healthy brain, you will be able to think, make better decisions, and stay mentally fit. This is the reason it’s very essential to practice yoga exercises for brain development. This will help you boost your memory and concentration and will also help increase the blood flow to the brain.
Top 7 Yoga Exercises for Brain Development
Let’s discuss seven yoga poses for brain health to make your brain work better and faster. Incorporate these easy poses into your daily routine and improve your memory, focus, and thinking skills.
Paschimottanasana | Seated Forward Bend
Paschimottanasana is also known as the Seated Forward Bend in English. This yoga for healthy brain benefits you by calming your brain and nervous system. Also, reduces stress, anxiety and depression among individuals. Start by:
- Sitting on the floor and keeping your legs in front of you.
- Slowly inhale and bring your arms over your head. Make sure the arms are beside your ears and pointing to the ceiling.
- Keep your back straight.
- Exhale slowly, bring your upper body forward and try to touch your toes with your hands.
- Ensure that you don’t have much gap between your thighs and your chest. It will help you keep your spine straight.
- Try to touch your forehead to your legs and stay in the position for a few breaths.
- To release, lift your upper body and bring your arms down.
Contraindications:
This yoga for brain health is not recommended for individuals with a hernia, slipped disc, or high blood pressure. Also, if you are a pregnant woman, Paschimottanasana yoga is not for you.
Vrikshasana | Tree Pose
Vrikshasana, or Tree Pose, is one of the best yoga for brain power. By performing this asana on a regular basis, you can actually increase your mental focus and concentration. This yoga pose helps you avoid distractions and improves cognitive functions. To get into this yoga pose, you’ll need to:
- Stand straight, keeping your arms by the side.
- Raise your right leg and try to balance your body on the left leg.
- Now, slowly put the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh as high as possible.
- As you are balancing on the left foot, slowly raise your arms over your head.
- Don’t bend your elbows and join the palms together.
- Breathe gently, and stay in the position for about 8-10 deep breaths.
- Release by lowering the arms and your right leg and get back to tadasana.
- Repeat the asana with the left leg.
Contraindications:
For people with high blood pressure or recent knee injuries, it’s best to skip this asana. Also, individuals suffering from vertigo, migraine, arthritis and a hip replacement should refrain from practicing this asana.
Padmasana | Lotus Pose
Padmasana, or the Lotus Pose, is an excellent yoga for sharp brain. This asana is beneficial in freshening your mind and boosting mental positivity. Also, relaxes the body, improves concentration and helps you in deeper meditation. To do this yoga pose, you’ll need to:
- Sit on the ground. Keep your back straight and your legs stretched in front.
- Now, bend the right knee, hold your right foot and keep it on your left thigh.
- Similarly, bend the left knee, hold the left foot and keep it on your right thigh.
- Now, place your palms on your knee.
- Sit straight and relax. Close your eyes in order to focus on your breath.
- Maintain the pose for a few deep breaths and then come back to the initial pose.
Contraindications:
People with ankle, hip, groin, or knee injuries should avoid this yoga pose. Any individual suffering from high blood pressure should not attempt this asana.
Bhramari Pranayama | Humming Bee Breathing
Bharamari Pranayama, also known as Humming Bee Breathing, is a good yoga for brain development. This breathing exercise helps you make your mind quiet and calm. Along with that, it reduces blood pressure and anger. To perform this yoga asana, follow these steps:
- Sit on the ground in Sukhasana, keeping your spine straight.
- Keep your eyes closed and stay calm.
- Take your index finger and place it in the cartilage of your ear.
- Press the fingers in, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
- While exhaling, make the humming bee noise from your mouth. (Keeping your lips closed and saying “hmmmmm” as long as you can)
- Breathe in again and then keep repeating the pattern 5-6 times.
Contraindications:
Pregnant or mensurating women should not perform this yoga for brain health. Also, if you suffer from high blood pressure issues, chest pain, epilepsy, or have an active ear infection, you should refrain from practicing this yoga pose. Do not perform this asana while lying down.
Halasana | Plough Pose
One of the fantastic yoga poses for brain is Halasana or Plough Pose, which helps to reduce the level of stress and anxiety. This asana can help you relax and calm down. Also, it improves blood circulation to the brain and promotes optimal brain function. To execute this best yoga for brain, you’ll need to:
- Lie down on the floor. Stretch your legs straight out and keep your arms by your side.
- Now, inhale and lift both legs together and swing it beyond your head region in such a way that they are perpendicular to your torso.
- Make sure your toes are pointed out, touching the floor and your knees straight.
- Your hands should be stretched straight behind; if required, you can also support your hips and back.
- Breathe and hold the pose for around 30 seconds – 1 minute, depending on how long you feel comfortable.
- To release, slowly lower your feet to the starting position.
- Lie down, relax and then repeat the pose 3-5 times.
Contraindications:
People with cervical spine issues, neck injuries, abdominal injuries, digestive issues, or hernia should avoid this best yoga for brain health. Individuals with lower back pain, lumbosacral pain or high blood pressure issues should take precautions while performing the asana.
Sarvangasana | Shoulder Stand
Sarvangasana is one of the best yoga asanas for brain power that helps increase the blood flow to the brain. It also activates both sides of the brain and balances the mind. This yoga also supplies oxygen to the head, which ultimately promotes good mental health and sleep. To perform this yoga asana, you will need to:
- Lie on the floor in a supine position, with your feet together and hands by your sides. Take a few deep breaths.
- Lift your legs, keeping them straight so that they are perpendicular to your torso.
- Place your hands on your lower back to support your body as you lift.
- Now, lift your hips off the ground, transferring your body weight onto your shoulders.
- Keep your body straight, and if required, get the help of the wall.
- Once you reach the final pose, hold it for up to 2 minutes, breathing slowly and steadily.
- To release, slowly lower yourself back down, returning to the original position. Lie down, place your hands above your head, and relax.
Contraindications:
Sarvangasana should be avoided by people suffering from a hernia, backache, cervical issues or spinal injuries. Also, don’t hold the asana for too long if you have high blood pressure. You should refrain from doing this yoga for sharp brain if you have a headache or diarrhea. Menstruating women also should not practice this yoga pose.
Sirsasana | Headstand Pose
This yoga for brain health is a fantastic asana that helps you improve your brain functions, strengthens your willpower, and improves memory and cognitive functions. It also increases the blood flow to the brain and rejuvenates brain cells. Begin by:
- Sit in Vajrasana Pose and then slowly kneel on the ground, keeping your hands shoulder-width apart.
- Now, place your arms on the ground and interlock your hands in such a way that your arms form a triangle.
- Now, gently put the top of your head on the ground inside your interlocked hands.
- Slowly, walk a few steps back, bend your knees a little and lift your legs off the ground, pointing the sole to the sky.
- Keep your body straight and try to balance your body on your head and hands.
- If required, take the support of a wall to avoid falling on the ground.
- Once you are balanced, stay in the position for 3-5 breaths.
- Then, gently lower your legs to the ground.
Contraindications:
This best yoga exercises for brain is quite risky for pregnant women. People with recent injuries on the neck, shoulders, elbows, rib cage, or hamstrings should not perform this asana. Individuals with glaucoma should avoid this yoga. People suffering from Vertigo, severe headaches, or migraine should refrain from performing this asana. Women on their period should not practice Sirshasana.
Final Notes
If you are new to yoga, then there might be some yoga asanas for brain health that may be very difficult for you to perform. But with a step-by-step guide, Yogasan has made it very easy for you. Always remember that your brain is the powerhouse and the most vital part of your body, so it becomes your responsibility to take care of it. Start with the easy yoga for brain first, and as you master them, move on to the complex poses. We promise you if you add these asanas to your bucket list, you will always stay mentally fit and healthy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which yoga is best for brain?
There are many yoga poses for brain, including Paschimottanasana, Vrikshana, Padmasana, Bhramari Pranayama, Halasana, Sarvangasana, and Sirsasana. You can read more about this asana in detail in our above blog.
Does yoga help your brain?
Absolutely, best yoga poses for brain power helps you in many ways. It helps you to reduce stress, improve cognitive skills, and improve brain structure and function. It also helps in increasing the blood flow to the mind and ultimately reduces anxiety and depression issues.
Can yoga increase brain power?
Yes, yoga definitely increases brain power. It improves your mental well-being by improving your memory, concentration and learning skills. There are many brain yoga for seniors as well as kids that activate both the brain hemispheres and balance your mind.
Which yoga increase brain power?
There are some of the best yoga for brain power, such as Paschimottanasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, Sirsasana, etc., that definitely increase brain power by improving cognitive function and memory.
