I think it’s been established by now that yoga is good for you. There is a general consensus that yoga improves your health, has a de-stressing effect, and increases well-being. (Ok, occasionally you see news articles where doctors complain about an increase in yoga injuries, but with a good teacher and respect for your own limits most injuries can be prevented.) But why exactly is yoga good for you?

One of the keys to yoga’s health benefits lie in its effect on the nervous system. Yoga works as an antidote to the body’s stress response. When humans perceive a looming danger, whether it’s a blood-thirsty tiger, a deadline, or a traffic jam, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering what we often call the fight-or-flight response. The heart rate and blood pressure increase, digestion is reduced, adrenaline production is stimulated, and the pupils dilate, preparing the person to deal with the danger of whatever it was that triggered the stress response.

When the perceived danger is over the body activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Heat rate and blood pressure decrease, digestive activity returns to normal, endorphins are produced, and the pupils constrict, restoring a resting condition in the body. The problem with modern life, however, is that often the parasympathetic nervous system gets challenged by chronic stressors, and we are never able to fully relax. Sounds familiar?

Taking time out for your yoga practice and allowing time for yourself is in itself de-stressing. But this isn’t the only reason yoga is good if you are running around yourself in circles. Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system directly, working to counteract the effects of stress.

If you are feeling stressed out, try targeting the relaxation response in your practice:

• Focus on deep, slow breathing that fully activates the diaphragm.
• Include poses that target sections of the spine linked to the parasymphatetic nervous system (neck->T1 and L2->tail). Poses that access the neck or the hips can be very calming. Try Supported Shoulderstand and Reclining Bound Angle Pose (with or without props).

After practice, climb into bed with some herbal tea and a good book, and things might not seem so bad after all! 

More about the health benefits of yoga:

77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga
ABC of Yoga: Benefits of Yoga - Why Yoga Exercise is Good for You
MayoClinic.com: Yoga: Improve your stress management and relaxation skills