Alzheimer’s is a
disease that causes dementia. Alzheimer’s causes nerve cell death and tissue
loss throughout the brain. The damage harms memory, speech, and comprehension.
In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear in their
mid-60s. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Alzheimer's
disease is named after Dr. Alois
Alzheimer, a German doctor. In 1906, In Alzheimer’s disease, brain cells
start to deteriorate. The body attempts to stop this process by producing a
protein called amyloid. However, amyloid deposits build up in the brain,
leading to further deterioration. These deposits of amyloid are referred to as
"plaques" and cause the brain cells to shrivel up and form
"tangles", which in turn lead to changes in the brain structure and
cause the brain cells to die. The formation of plaques and tangles also
prevents the production of some important brain chemicals, called
neurotransmitters. Over time the loss of brain cells causes the brain to
shrink.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s:
Regularly forgetting
recent events, names and faces.
Becoming increasingly
repetitive.
Regularly misplacing
items or putting them in odd places.
Confusion about the
time of day/ Night.
Disorientation,
especially away from your normal surroundings.
Problems to finding
the right words..
Mood changes,
including irritability and anxiety
Difficulty processing
new information and learning new things
Loss of spontaneity
and initiative, Confusion about time and place
Communication difficulties,
Decline in ability to perform routine tasks.
Still there’s no cure
for Alzheimer’s and no way to slow the nerve damage it causes in the brain. But
there are medications & Therapies that appear to help maintain mental
skills and slow the disease’s effects.
How Yoga & Meditation helps in Alzheimer's
The ancient Indian
practice of yoga has been improving the mind-body connection under the appearance
of a distinct philosophy for over 5,000 years through breathing, posture, and
meditation exercises.
Yoga & Meditation plays an important role in slowing the
progression of Alzheimer’s and dementias. The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root word "yuja", which means "to
yoke" the spirit and physical body together. Yoga has evolved over
thousands of years to embrace a wide range of disciplines. Yoga is a popular
activity for all. Yoga can be modified to suit all levels of fitness. Yoga has
been proven to lower blood pressure and increases strength and flexibility.
Yoga energizes our bodies and calms our
minds. Yoga is an art as well as a science. It is a science, because it
offers practical methods for controlling body and mind, thereby making deep
meditation possible. And it is an art, for unless it is practiced intuitively
and sensitively it will yield only superficial results. Yoga is not a system of
beliefs. It takes into account the influence on each other of body and mind,
and brings them into mutual harmony. So often, for instance, the mind cannot
concentrate simply because of tension or illness in the body, which prevent the
energy from flowing to the brain. So often, too, the energy in the body is
weakened because the will is dispirited, or paralyzed by harmful emotions. Yoga
works primarily with the energy in the body, through the science of pranayama, yoga for energy-control. Prana means ‘breath.’ Yoga
teaches how, through breath-control, to still the mind and attain higher states
of awareness. Yoga for those with Alzheimer’s disease is a safe, effective way
for them to stay physically strong as well as mentally engaged. Often exercise
can stimulate areas of the brain that remain otherwise unused. Yoga is an art
as well as a science. It is a science, because it offers practical methods for
controlling body and mind, thereby making deep meditation possible. And it is
an art, for unless it is practiced intuitively and sensitively it will yield
only superficial results. Yoga is not a system of beliefs. It takes into
account the influence on each other of body and mind, and brings them into
mutual harmony. So often, for instance, the mind cannot concentrate simply
because of tension or illness in the body, which prevent the energy from
flowing to the brain. So often, too, the energy in the body is weakened because
the will is dispirited, or paralyzed by harmful emotions. Practicing yoga poses
cleanses and detoxifies the body, by increasing the circulation of fresh blood
through the body, you will be able to cleanse and flush out toxins which are
the direct result of an irregular lifestyle, unhealthy habits, and poor posture.
“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves
ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose
the path that leads to wisdom”.- Mahatma Buddha….
Mantras originated in the Vedic religion of “Aja Nabha Varsha” as nowadays Modern India, later becoming an essential part of the Hindu tradition and
a customary practice within Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. The use of mantras
is now widespread throughout various spiritual movements which are based on, or
Branches of, the practices in the earlier religions. Saying any word produces
an actual physical vibration. Over time, if we know what the effect of that
vibration is, then the word may come to have meaning associated with the effect
of saying that vibration or word. This is one level of energy basis for words. The
most basic or primordial mantra is Aum,
also known as the “Super Logical Mantra”,
is the source of all mantras. Aum is regarded to be the most fundamental and
original mantra. Aum represents the reality and totality of the world. Thus,
Aum can be prefixed and suffixed to all Sanskrit Mantras or Shlokas. Chanting
of mantra was also a concept of the Vedic saints whose end is seen as Nirvana.
Benefits of Chanting Aum ॐ
The ॐ chanting removes
toxin from your body. It gives you better immunity and self-healing power.
It improves your
concentration and helps you focus on your target.
The ॐ chanting improves your voice and gives strength
to vocal cord and muscles during old age.
Om Mantra has a
cardiovascular benefit too which keeps blood pressure normal.
It helps in keeping
your emotions controlled and thus by putting a control over emotions and leads
you to excel in life.
The ॐ chanting produces a
vibration and sound which is felt in your vocal cord and sinus. It opens pore
which in turn helps in removal of sinus problems gradually and if done in
complete faith.
ॐ वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥ ॥ ॐ
O Lord Ganesha, of
huge body with elephant head, shining like
Billions of suns, O
God, remove all obstacles from my endeavors, forever.
* Information on the traditional uses and
properties of Yoga are provided on this Article is for educational use only,
and is not intended as medical advice. Author: Vikas Acharya
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