Yoga for Brain: Best Asanas You Must Try

Were you aware that brain power can improve with yoga for brain? Did you know that several asanas help improve brain health? Exercise is vital for every muscle in your body. The brain controls almost every function of the body, including your speech, thought, mobility, and emotions. For optimum functioning, the brain needs to be active. 

There are several ways to improve brain power for better memory and concentration, and yoga for brain is one such effective option. Read on to get an insight into how yoga for concentration and memory can help boost your overall brain function. 

Yoga for Brain Power

Meditation and breath control are the two crucial factors in Yoga that relax the brain and boost cognitive performance. Yoga asanas are nothing but different poses that manage the blood flow to different parts of the body and facilitate better functioning. 

Yoga for brain nerves works on the vagus nerve, controlling mood and stress levels. It impacts the breathing pattern, thus relaxing the body and keeping you calm. Just 20 minutes of yoga can go a long way in improving the brain power and overall health of the body.

Several asanas are recommended as yoga for mind concentration to be practised regularly for the best results. Given below are a few asanas that help in improving memory and concentration.

1. Padmasana (Lotus Pose)

Padmasana in Sanskrit means Lotus Flower, so the asana is popular as Lotus Pose. In this asana, you will be sitting cross-legged with the feet placed on the opposite thighs. It is a meditative pose with several benefits besides calming and relaxing the brain. Padmasana works best when performed in the morning. It is not necessary to do Padmasana on empty stomach, You can have food few hours before doing this asana

Steps:

1. Sit on a flat surface with your spine straight and legs stretched in the front.
2. Bend your right foot and place it on your left thigh. Use your hands to position the right foot on the left thigh. The sole should be facing upwards and the heel should be close to the abdomen.
3. Similarly, bend your left foot and place it on the right thigh using your hands. The sole should be facing upwards and the heel should be close to the abdomen.
4. After the legs are crossed and the feet on opposing thighs, keep the hand on the knees with palms facing upwards and the index finger and thumb brought together in a mudra position.
5. Take deep breaths.
6. Hold this position for a few minutes with your head straight and spine erect.
7. Repeat the same with the other leg on top.

Padmasana relaxes and calms the mind as well as activates and energises the abdomen, spine, bladder, and pelvis. It also makes the hips more flexible by opening them up.

2. Ardha Matsyendrasana (Seated Twist Pose)

This asana is most effective if done on an empty stomach early in the morning. You can also do this asana 4 to 5 hours after a meal. Hold this pose of yoga for brain power for 30 to 60 seconds. 

Steps:

1. Sit straight with your legs stretched out
2. The feet should be together with the spine erect.
3. Bend the left leg. Keep the left foot close to the right thigh. If desired, the left leg can be kept stretched also.
4. Place the right leg over the left leg by taking it over the knee.
5. Twist your shoulders, neck, and waist towards the right and look at the right shoulder.
6. Keep the left hand on the right knee and the right hand behind.
7. Hold the posture for 30 to 60 seconds. Continue breathing slowly and steadily.
8. Exhale and release the right hand, then the waist, chest, and neck. Sit straight and relax.
9. Repeat the pose on the other side and exhale as you return to the first position.

This asana strengthens the spine as well as the urinary, reproductive, and digestive systems. It also stretches the hips, shoulders, and neck. This asana has to be performed first on the right side and then on the left side.

This yoga for brain power, besides calming the mind, relieves stress, nourishes the nervous system, and energises the Manipura Chakra, i.e., the solar plexus. Manipura chakra controls self-esteem, self-discipline, and willpower. Activating the solar plexus results in improved self-confidence and you can gain control over your life. It also arouses the kundalini power to make your attitude towards life more positive.

3. Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)

Vajra is a Sanskrit word that means diamond and this asana is popularly known as the Diamond Pose. Practising this form of yoga to increase concentration and memory power not only keeps your mind calm and relaxed but also makes your body as strong as the ‘Vajra’. This is the only asana that can be performed after meals.

Steps:

1. Kneel on a yoga mat.
2. Your feet should be in line with your legs, with the knees and ankles brought together. The big toes should touch each other with the soles facing upwards.
3. Exhale while sitting back with your buttock on the heels and the thighs on the calves.
4. Keep your hand on the thighs and position your pelvis till you feel comfortable.
5. Inhale and exhale slowly while you sit straight with your spine erect. Use your head to stretch your body upwards and push your tailbone downwards to the floor.
6. Place your hands on the thighs. Relax your arms and look straight with your chin parallel to the floor.

Vajrasana is a form of yoga for brain power that provides immense health benefits. This is one of the best asanas in yoga for concentration and memory. It helps in keeping the mind calm and stable. It also helps improve digestion and control hypertension besides being an effective remedy for urinary problems. It benefits highly in weight loss and in reducing menstrual cramps.

4. Halasana (Plough Pose)

This one is an effective yoga for brain nerves pose. As the name suggests, the pose represents an agricultural tool used to prepare the field before sowing the seeds. This asana is highly beneficial for the nervous system and helps rejuvenate the body and the mind.

Steps:

1. Lie down on your back with your arms by your side and palms facing downwards.
2. Inhale and lift your feet off the floor vertically at an angle of 90 degrees using your abdominal muscles.
3. Support your hips and back with your hands and lift them off the ground. Breathe normally during the process.
4. Sweep your leg over your head at a 180-degree angle until the toes touch the floor. Keep your back perpendicular to the ground.
5. Hold the position for a few seconds if you’re a beginner. Otherwise, you can hold the position for a minute. Relax with each breath while you are holding the posture.
6. After a minute or a few seconds, as the case may be, exhale and bring your legs down slowly.

This form of yoga for nerves relaxes the mind and calms the nervous system. It opens up the muscles of the shoulder, neck, abdomen, and back, relieving stress and fatigue. It enhances the flexibility of the legs and tones up the muscles.

5. Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)

This form of yoga for memory relieves stress and keeps you away from negative emotions like anger and irritability. Paschimottasana considered a super brain yoga asana, boosts cognitive performance. It nourishes and energises the brain.

Steps:

1. Stretch your arms straight upwards towards the ceiling.
2. Keep the spine straight with legs stretched forward with the toes flexing towards you.
3. Exhale, hinge at your hips and bend forwards.
4. With each inhale, stretch your spine.
5. With each exhale, bend further forward. Concentrate on your belly coming closer to your thighs rather than your nose touching the knee. This will help elongate the spine better.
6. Bend forward and try to reach your toes. After bending forward to your maximum effort, hold your ankle, shin, or toe – wherever you can reach. Keep the feet flexed throughout.
7. Hold the position for some time. 
8. Inhale and come up to a sitting position, exhale and lower your arms slowly.

The forward bend is believed to release stress and enhance mood, giving a good stretch to the back of the body from calves to hamstrings to the spine. 

Conclusion

Energising and nourishing the brain is equally important for overall health. Yoga is important for brain health as exercise is essential to keep physically fit. Both mental and physical health is crucial for overall well-being as the brain governs most of the functions of our body. Preventing brain degeneration through yoga for memory is highly important for cognitive performance. Your ability to understand, communicate, make decisions, etc. depends significantly on your mental health.