yoga information

The Purpose of Yoga- Enhanced Intelligence

By Paul Jerard

Is your intelligence quotient “carved in stone?” Some researchers might believe it, but we know if a person makes up his or her mind to learn, this same person will become more intelligent.

The idea of enhanced intelligence comes with the desire to change, learn, and achieve.

Did you realize that low levels of oxygen can result in brain deterioration? Your brain, and vital organs, need rich supplies of oxygen. Yogic breathing techniques (Pranayama), especially deep breathing techniques, will increase the dosage of oxygen to the brain.

This might make you consider Udgeeth Pranayama, Bastrika Pranayama, Abdominal Breathing, Brahmari Pranayama, Dirgha Pranayama, Ujjayi Pranayama, Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, Kapalabhati Pranayama, and “Breath of Fire,” in a different way. Maybe the “ancients” were on to something with 5,000 years of Yoga and Pranayama research.

Sorry to say this, but only an uneducated person would refuse to breathe correctly for a better quality life and a marginal increase in brain power. If you have decided to breathe deeper, from this point on, you have already enhanced your intelligence.

Meditation is taught in all forms of Yoga. Meditation increases concentration and allows the mind to relax. The first requirement of meditation is to keep the spine straight. After that, a mindful meditation session, focusing on breath awareness, would give your brain many benefits and enhance your intelligence.

A healthy body is one of Hatha Yoga’s main objectives, and we all know that a healthy body has a symbiotic relationship with a healthy mind. Consider the opposite: If you have a severe headache, can you focus, concentrate, and solve problems quickly? Why not? Is it because all you can think of is pain?

Your body and mind are linked, whether you like it or not, so you have to take care of both.

Hatha, Kundalini, and Raja Yoga contain postures (Asanas), which develop a healthy body.

When you connect the power of Asana, with Pranayama, and meditate, you have made a wise choice toward mental health, physical health, and enhancing your intelligence.

After all this nurturing of body and mind, you may want to meditate before bedtime. You could start with a ten minute session of breath awareness, good thought, and mindfulness.

The results will be that you sleep better and your dreams will be better. That’s right – If you think good thoughts during meditation, at night, your dreams tend to be good ones.

When you wake up the next morning, your intelligence must be enhanced, with all of the educated choices you made the day before. At the very least, you will wake up with the power of Yoga in your heart and your mind.

© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 4:52 PM