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Why Yoga Works – Yoga’s Impact on Gene Expression & Stress — for Yoga Teachers, Yoga Therapists, Health & Wellness Coaches, Holistic Healthcare Providers

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, we explore how yoga impacts the nervous system and stress, plus research showing that reducing stress changes genetic expression.

Objective

Be proficient in communicating how yoga impacts the nervous system and stress, and the many profound effects this has on health, including genetic expression (epigenetics).

Description

Understand why it’s important to learn to regulate the nervous system and give inspirational examples of yoga’s impact. Describe the primary underlying reason that yoga helps to relieve stress and give examples of yoga techniques that trigger the Relaxation Response. Describe the relationship between yoga, vagal tone, and relaxation. Define GABA and explain how it’s related to stress, fear and anxiety. Cite research findings on the impact of yoga on stress and GABA levels.

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