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| Eight Weeks Reduced Women’s Night Sweats, Improved Concentration |
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| Menopause - Menopause 2008 |
| Written by Frank Mangano |
| Tuesday, 02 September 2008 19:49 |
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Gym goers can be traditionally found benching, curling, jogging or cycling. But many a gym goer today forgoes the barbell and the stationary bike for the studio, where the crow and the eagle and can be found in abundance. No, not the birds, but postures – postures that the art of yoga teaches to men and women of all ages. While men occasionally make up as much 40 percent of the average class, women predominate the yoga mat, and for good reason. According to a new study on the effects of yoga on middle-aged women, yoga helped curve some of the not-so-pleasant aspects that come with mid-life, like menopause and a decreased ability to concentrate. To study the effects of yoga on middle-aged women, the researchers randomly assigned approximately 120 women experiencing menopausal symptoms to one of two groups: yoga or strength training. The women were to take part in the prescribed activities for eight weeks. By the end of the eight-week trial, here’s what the researchers found:
While strength training and aerobic activity is primarily beneficial for the body, it’s also beneficial for the mind; the exercise itself releases endorphins, improving one’s mood. But I think anyone would agree that running and strength training is meant for the body first, then for the mind. Yoga, in my opinion, is just the opposite: it’s geared first for the mind, second for the body. And the manner in which the researchers asked the yoga participants to exercise emphasizes this point, saying the postures and breathing exercises for the yoga group were meant to increase their ability to master the constant flow of thoughts. The slow, steady breathing and deliberate movements that yoga preaches helps to slow down the brain’s inclination to speed through those thoughts, which tire the mind.
Yoga has been around for centuries. It comes as no surprise to me that yoga is as popular and as effective as it is today in treating the body and mind – more than 20 million devotees to date. I’m not among that 20 million. My exercise regimen consists mainly of weight training and jogging. But those activities help to relax my mind in ways not far removed from yoga’s effect on the mind.
Unlike my other articles, where I advocate one food or activity over another, I’m not doing that here. Both strength training and yoga have their benefits for the mind and body; how effective exercises are for you should dictate which one you choose. But why choose one? Try both! You never know, yoga could become your new passion. And if you’re a woman in her 40s or 50s, you’d have a hard time finding a more beneficial activity for the mind, body (and spirit) than yoga.
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