Clear your mind on the mat and keep it clear all week long.
Have you ever had the thought that your mind just isn’t as clear as it used to be? You might not even have noticed the mental state you were living in before to be particularly clear until all the second you realize it has become way hazier. If any of this sounds familiar, you could be experiencing brain fog. Brain fog, as explained by the National Institutes of Health is comprised of “a range of neurocognitive symptoms that can include forgetfulness and problems focusing, concentrating, and paying attention”. So if your attention span or your memory has lessened recently, learning more about brain fog and how to combat it could be worthwhile.
Overcoming Brain Fog
If you’re feeling like you might have brain fog, then you might be wondering what you can do about it. Neuropsychologist Kamini Krishnan explained to Cleveland Clinic that there’s no “known medications or treatments” for brain fog, but still would suggest sleep, nutrition, and exercise habits as having an impact. A couple of the ways Bangkok International Hospital suggests treating brain fog includes regular exercise, positive thinking, and reducing stress. So while there might not be any clear answers about what can fix brain fog, some of the practices and focuses thought to combat it are, essentially, focusing on our mental and physical wellbeing. Yoga, as a practice that balances mind, body, and spirit throughout the practice, might just be a perfect place to fight your brain fog.
While we aren’t medical professionals and recommend you consult with your own doctor if you think you do have brain fog, if you’re already at the step of overcoming your brain fog or if you simply want to work on improving your memory and concentration and think yoga might be a place to do it, look no further. Here’s our guide on how to utilize your yoga practice to combat brain fog.
How to Utilize Yoga
Yoga is an unique form of exercise in that it brings together a combination of focus on mind, body, and spirit. Yoga has many physical benefits such as increased flexibility, increased strength, better circulation, and injury protection. It also has mental health benefits including boosting mood, creating clarity and calm, and relieving stress. In case all those benefits weren’t enough, yoga is also often thought of as deepening spiritual connection. So, if you’re hoping to find a way to focus on improving your mind and body, yoga could be a great option. Yoga is great for brain health and has even been connected specifically to counteracting decline in memory and cognitive skills, two of the areas thought to be affected by mind fog.
Poses to Combat Brain Fog
The benefits yoga can bring can come from any yoga classes. But, if you’re looking for specific ways to focus your yoga practice on overcoming mind fog, there are some things you may want to consider. For example, Brandt Passalacqua discussed yoga and brain fog with Bustle and suggested “poses that turn you upside down are especially helpful” because of their effects on your circulation and energy. So if you’re trying to make it feel like your head is screwed to your shoulders once more, you might want to start by flipping it upside down. Downward dog and headstands have been suggested as especially helpful. Breathing techniques may also be helpful, such as Breathing Fire which Jazz Psychiatry suggests.
Most importantly, listen to your body. Since brain fog can be different for everyone and can affect us all differently, different practices might help each of us more. Maybe a slow class will give you the time you need to connect with your mind and body like Hot Candlelight Deep Stretch & Relaxation. Or, maybe a quicker paced class that gets your blood flowing will help more, such as Hot Fast & Furious Fusion. For a full list of class offerings to try, you can check our website here, and we can’t wait to see you in the studio soon!