Practicing yoga if you’re able can provide long-term cognitive boosts. Specific poses are aimed at helping improve concentration and memory, and many patients with Multiple Sclerosis combine yoga with daily puzzles and games to improve their memory. You don’t need to be a master yogi to practice this session of poses, but they will require you to concentrate on your body and your balance in order to achieve them. This concentration will strengthen your brain and your ability to stay focused on tasks outside of yoga. Follow these easy, beginner poses to improve your concentration.
1) Meditative Pose
Sit cross-legged on the floor or up straight in a chair. Bring your hands together in front of your chest, and make sure you feel the pressure as you press them together. Let your thumbs float near your heart, and breathe deeply for about 5 minutes. Once you’re relaxed, move into the tree pose.
2) Tree Pose
For the Tree Pose, stand up straight and shift your weight to your left leg. Inhale deeply and slowly bring your right foot up to your groin. Exhale and balance for a moment until you are situated. If you can’t lift your foot that high, lift it as far as it is comfortable and balance. Next, inhale and raise your arms above your head and concentrate on maintaining your balance. Hold this position and breathe deeply for a few seconds before moving into the Eagle Pose.
3) Eagle Pose
The transition to Eagle Pose is as easy as dropping your arms. As you do so, slowly lower your foot and wrap it around your left calf. Breathe and balance as you wrap your arms around your chest. Hold this pose and concentrate on your balance. Inhaling and exhaling at specific intervals can help you manage your balance, but you will need to concentrate in order to complete the pose correctly.
4) Warrior Pose
After the Eagle, return to a standing position with both feet on the ground before moving on to the Warrior Pose. Inhale and raise both of your arms above your head into a comfortable position. Then shift your weight to your left leg. Exhale and slowly start leaning forward, keeping your arms up. As you lean, lift your right leg so that your body ends in the T position. Inhale and exhale deeply, concentrating on your balance, and hold this position for a few moments. You will keep this position as you move into the Lord of the Dance.
5) Lord of the Dance
The Lord of the Dance pose involves you reaching behind you to grab your right ankle. Inhale deeply and bend your right leg to bring your foot to your right hand. Exhale as you reach for it, and extend your left hand out in front of you to help maintain your balance. Breathe deeply for a few moments before slowly relaxing your limbs. This pose should be comfortable, so don’t force the reach if you cannot comfortably make it.
There are many MS benefits of yoga. You may not complete the poses perfectly, but trying them out and practicing them regularly will help you build your strength and your concentration. The more often you practice, the stronger you will become in both body and mind. This particular combination of poses works particularly well for the central nervous system. The amount of concentration you use to make and maintain these poses directly correlates with the way your nervous system processes information, stress, and anxiety.
The more you practice, the more concentration you will use and the stronger your nervous system will become. If your MS symptoms cause you to lose focus, experience memory loss or confusion, or heightens your anxiety, practicing these yoga poses may help strengthen your concentration and your central nervous system and offer you much-needed relief for persistent, cognitive symptoms.