DOWNWARD DOGS AND GENE EXPRESSION: The Surprising Science of Yoga

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Ever wondered if yoga is truly worth the hype? Beyond the trendy Instagram poses and fitness tracker metrics lies a practice with thousands of years of wisdom—and surprisingly robust scientific support.

Yoga isn't just another workout. The word itself comes from Sanskrit meaning "unity," emphasizing harmony between mind, body, and spirit. While physical poses receive the most attention, the true essence of yoga lies in its ability to ground us, connect us with our bodies, and bring awareness to our breath. Those dedicated yogis who seem so calm and centered? They've tapped into something deeper than just physical flexibility.

My own journey with yoga revealed unexpected gifts. Through YouTube sessions with guides like Adriene Mishler, I discovered how yoga taught me to appreciate my body's capabilities, use breath as an anchor during stressful moments, and create space for self-connection. Science strongly supports these subjective benefits—research shows yoga reduces anxiety and depression, improves cognitive function, and positively affects physiological markers like blood pressure. It works by stimulating the vagus nerve and activating your parasympathetic nervous system, essentially switching your body from stress mode to "rest and digest" mode. Fascinatingly, recent studies even show yoga influences gene expression, boosting protective genes while reducing inflammatory ones.

Ready to explore yoga yourself? Remember that benefits accumulate with consistent practice. Your first session will likely involve a wandering mind rather than immediate enlightenment. Start small—even 20 minutes can make a difference. The mat is waiting to teach you what happens when you simply take time to breathe and be present with yourself. What might you discover?

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I am happy we can share this journey of levelling up, together. See you next week!

- Alita <3

Paper Discussed in this episode: Giridharan S. Beyond the Mat: Exploring the Potential Clinical Benefits of Yoga on Epigenetics and Gene Expression: A Narrative Review of the Current Scientific Evidence. Int J Yoga. 2023 May-Aug;16(2):64-71. doi: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_141_23. Epub 2023 Nov 21. PMID: 38204768; PMCID: PMC10775846.