The Physiology of Yoga

While many people practice yoga simply because it helps them feel good, the physiological basis for yoga’s effects on the body and mind is often unknown or misunderstood. Understanding these physiological concepts can help to deepen your yoga practice.

The Physiology of Yoga separates speculation from fact by examining how the body responds and adapts to yoga within many systems of the body: musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, endocrine, reproductive, and digestive. Straightforward explanations guide you in sorting through conflicting information about what yoga really can help you achieve and in evaluating whether certain yoga methods provide benefits to any or all of those systems.

You can experiment with concepts through Try It Yourself sidebars, which focus on mindful movement, meditation, and breathing. The 14 Myth or Fact sidebars explore popular claims about yoga, such as whether a shoulder stand can stimulate the thyroid or if twists can detoxify the liver. You’ll get the most current research to determine the validity of various claims so you can avoid practices that could be harmful or counterproductive and can decide for yourself what works for your practice.

Finally, experience firsthand how yoga affects your physiology by exploring specific yoga poses and four sequences. Each sequence explains which of the physiological principles from the earlier chapters may be most prevalent in that sequence.

With The Physiology of Yoga, you or your students can navigate all the conflicting views and opinions about the impact of yoga and learn to practice yoga while fully enjoying the benefits of mindful movement.

From the Publisher

Understand the scientific side of yoga

Experience the greatest benefits your yoga practice has to offer. The Physiology of Yoga features science-based information about how the body responds and adapts to a yoga practice within each system of the body. Straightforward explanations guide you in sorting through conflicting information about what yoga really can help you to achieve.

Get practical information in Try It Yourself sidebars, which focus on stretching, meditation, and breathing.
Use the 14 Myth or Fact sidebars to assess popular claims about yoga, such as whether a shoulder stand can stimulate the thyroid.
Then experience firsthand how yoga affects your own physiology with specific yoga poses and four sequences that highlight physiological principles.

The science of stretching and flexibility

FIGURE 1.7 (a) Active ROM, mostly limited by the strength of the hip flexors, in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana. (b) Passive ROM, mostly limited by the stretch tolerance of the hamstrings, in Supta Padangusthasana.

Anatomy of Ujjayi

FIGURE 3.8 The vocal folds and the glottis while relaxed and open, phonating (speaking), and whispering, or ujjayi breathing.

Myth or Fact? Heavy Sweating During Hot Yoga Detoxes the Body

Detoxification is the physiological processes through which the body identifies, neutralizes, and eliminates toxic substances and metabolic byproducts.

Sweat glands are often perceived to play an important excretory function, similar to that of the kidneys. However, in a comprehensive review, Baker (2019) concluded that the role of the sweat glands in eliminating waste products and toxicants from the body seems to be minor compared with other avenues of breakdown (liver) and excretion (kidneys and gastrointestinal tract). … Nevertheless, studies have shown that perspiration plays a role in skin hydration and microbial defense (Schröder and Harder 2006; Watabe et al. 2013).

So, it appears that heavy sweating in a hot yoga class or in a sauna might not help us to relinquish all those perceived toxins after all. However, practicing yoga as part of a healthy lifestyle will allow our kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tracts to continue to work optimally.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Human Kinetics; First Edition (June 13, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1492599832
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1492599838
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.9 x 0.6 x 10.2 inches