# Health Experts Say Yoga Enhanced Mental Functions Better Than Physical Exercise

posted by Raj Kishore June 7, 2013 LIFESTYLE
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ILLINOIS — A 20-minute yoga session improved mental function better than slow to rigorous aerobic workouts, US health experts said.

University of Illinois Exercise Psychology Lab director Edward MacAuley said the research involved 30 young female undergraduate participants.

Neha Goethe, who spearheaded the research at the university said that “Yoga is an ancient Indian technique as well as a way of life which not only includes body postures and movements but also meditation and controlled breathing.”

Goethe is a Kinesiology, health and sport studies professor at the Wayne State University in Detroit.

Goethe said that yoga involves an active mindfulness element but its potential advantages have not been substantially explored.

The study’s yoga intervention involved a one 20-minute progression method of standing, seated and supine-yoga positions which included a so-called relaxation and “isometric contraction” of different muscles as well as regulated breathing techniques.

The student-participants also finished an exercise routine where they jogged or walked on a treadmill for about 20 minutes.

Goethe and fellow researchers said that they were surprised to find out participants showed an improvement in accuracy and reaction times on mental tasks after the yoga session, while the body exercise routines indicated no huge improvement on the memory and inhibitory control results.

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Raj hails from New Delhi, India. He has been a major contributor on many famous print media agencies in India. Raj brings an engaging twist to his journalism, being brutally honest, which has resulted in controversies many times. At the age of 28, Raj is blessed with a 40 year old mind. Email him at raj@pentagonpost.com

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