Yoga practitioners believe in its ability to cope with stress for a reason. Researchers from Rotterdam (Erasmus University) claim that meditation and yoga lead to changes in the structure of the brain.
The experts analyzed a database containing information on 15,000 Dutch people aged 45 and over. Among them, 3742 people are fond of meditation and yoga. They were the ones that most interested the researchers. All of them were offered to undergo an MRI of the brain, and some volunteers underwent it more than once for the purpose of the experiment.
It turned out that in yoga enthusiasts, MRI showed a reduced right amygdala, which is part of the amygdala and plays an important role in the formation of negative emotions. In addition, the subjects showed a reduced left part of the hippocampus, which is also involved in the manifestation of various emotions.
Scientists have also noticed that yoga has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, and also avoids the accumulation of cholesterol in the body and excess weight. Researchers have previously suggested that the positive effect is achieved precisely through such practices. In general, meditation, according to some scholars, can prolong a person's life.
Andrey Vetrov