Leading researchers recently published a study revealing that practising Kundalini Yoga (KY) over 12 weeks can have a positive impact on subjective cognitive decline in older adults. We were pleased to see this being picked up by the mainstream media, The Washington Post!
Yoga researcher Helen Lavretsky at UCLA compared KY against Memory Enhancement Training (MET). KY classes were held weekly over 12 weeks for 60 minutes with a certified KY instructor. Each class followed the same structure including tuning in, warming up, pranayama, kirtan kriya, savasana. In addition, each participant practised 12-minutes at home every day. They were instructed to chant with their eyes closed in a seated position and to visualise a beam of white light entering the centre of the top of the head and exiting the middle of the forehead.
It is interesting to note that as part of the KY practices, participants were asked to chant Saa Taa Naa Maa, which translates to “Shedding the old you for the true version of yourself””. While chanting, the thumb of each hand touch each finger while reciting one of the syllables. Practitioners start with the pinky finger to the index finger then go back from the index finger to the pinky. This is one of Heather Masons’ favourite practices for reducing anxiety.
The results included that for those practising KY they had:
- Significantly less subjective cognitive impairment compared with those in MET.
- A reduction in delayed recall, or episodic memory, after 24 weeks.
- MRI scans revealed increases in hippocampal volume, a structure implicated in memory.
- Reduction in inflammatory markers linked to cognitive decline.
Read the full study here.
Dr. Sat Bir, Ph.D. world renowned as the Director of Yoga Research for the Yoga Alliance and the Kundalini Research Institute, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and we are thrilled that he is offering ‘Yoga for Sleep and Sleep Disorders: Science, Research and Application’ online live via The Minded Institute.
Dr. Khalsa will offer a two-part seminar Online via Zoom on the 3rd and 4th of September from 6:30pm-8:30pm UK time. He will give an overview of sleep and sleep disorders, discuss why yoga is helpful in managing sleep disorders, and expand on specific yoga practices which may be beneficial for insomnia and sleep quality.
Reserve your space here.
Do you practise Kundalini Yoga or share it with your students?
