Improve Your Memory And Focus With These 10 Simple Yoga Poses

Nov 15, 2018 by apost team

As you get older, you might begin to get forgetful. It can also be hard to focus on tasks that you perform each day or that you've done many times in the past. While there are a few mental exercises that you can try to improve or maintain your memory function and focus, yoga exercises are an option as well.

These are fun exercises that you can do in the comfort of your home or in a group with friends or others who enjoy stretching and relaxing at the same time.

One of the benefits of yoga is that it has the potential to increase the gray matter in your brain which can then lead to an increase in memory function. It can also help to improve the cognitive function in your brain. You'll also notice that yoga can improve your mood and can help with stress and depression that you might have.

If you want to see if there are any benefits of yoga, then you need to practice the poses a few times each week while mixing up the poses that you do so that each area of the body is impacted.

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Mountain Pose

This is a pose where you stand with your feet firmly on the ground without moving as much as you would with other poses. It allows you to focus more on your breathing, which can help with lack of sleep or anxiety. As you stand with your feet on the ground and your hands pointed toward the ground, hold the midsection of your body as straight as possible. Slowly breathe in while making a gentle "ha" sound while exhaling.

Shoulder Stand

This is a pose that might seem like it can't be done, but it's one that improves the flow of blood to your brain. With more blood flowing to your brain, your memory, focus, and cognitive functions can begin to benefit, especially if this is one of the poses that you perform regularly each week.

Seated Forward

While sitting on the floor, you'll bend over until your hands touch your toes. This pose allows for stretching the muscles in your back, arms, and legs, increasing the blood flow to these areas of your body. Once the muscles in your body are relaxed, then your brain can begin to relax as well, decreasing anxiety that you might feel which means that you'll be able to focus better during the day.

Lotus

This pose is one that you likely think of when you picture what happens with yoga. While sitting on the floor, slowly cross your right leg over your left. You will also hold your palms up, chanting while sitting in this position so that your mind is cleared. While in this pose, you'll want to focus on your breathing so that you concentrate on each inhalation and exhalation, which can help in clearing your mind as well.

Plow Pose

This is another pose where you'll lie down on your back before putting your arms and hands flat on the floor beside you and your legs over your head. You will then slowly move your legs until your toes begin to touch the floor.

Bridge Pose

If you want to try a simple pose to begin with, then consider the bridge. It is one that calms your mind and that increases the blood flow to your brain as well as the lower limbs of your body. Keep your arms flat on the ground while raising the middle of your body up in the air. Your feet should be kept flat on the floor during this pose as well as your head. Exhale slowly while lowering your body down to the floor.

Bog Toe Pose

This is another simple pose to start with as all you have to do is slowly roll your back over to touch your toes with your hands. Concentrate on your big toes, which can slowly begin to increase your brain focus while performing other daily activities.

Humming Bee Breathing

This pose will allow you to release negative energy, calm down, and focus. Simply sit in a comfortable position with a straight back. Rest your fingers on the cartilage behind your ears, inhale and exhale slowly while making a humming sound, and focus on the physical sensation of your stress melting away.

Cleaning Breath

Sit with your legs cross as comfortably as possible. Hold your right nostril closed and breathe slowly, then hold both nostrils closed. Hold your breath from 1-2 seconds as you open your right nostril and keep your left nostril closed. Keep switching sides, inhaling and exhaling deeply each time.

Facial Massage

Rest your thumbs on your temples and your four fingers on your forehead. Massage your forehead gently before moving on to the skin around your eyes. Use your middle and forefinger to massage in a circular motion. Pinch your eyebrows and massage your cheekbones, then move your fingers down to the gap between your nose and lips, and your lips and chin. Finally, massage the sides of your face and your neck.

Make sure to inhale and exhale deeply throughout this process, focusing on the physical sensations around you.

Have you tried any of these yoga poses? Let us know in the comments and show this article to your friends and family to see what they think!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!