Benefits of Yoga
When it comes to exercise, cardio and resistance
training get most of the attention. But a modality
that was developed over 5,000 years ago offers
many of the same benefits, and then some. If the
goal of your exercise program is lifelong health
and vitality—of the body and mind—then
you should definitely consider making yoga
a part of your plan.
The Body
Essential Oils and Yoga
The Mind
The benefits of yoga are not limited to the body; in
fact, it’s ability to positively influence the mind is
probably its most studied characteristic. Research has
shown that regular yoga practice can increase blood
flow to the brain, improve executive functioning and
working memory capabilities, and protect against age-
related cognitive decline. One recently published study
found that regular yoga practice actually influences
brain structure, as regular yoga practitioners were
found to have greater brain cortical thickness than age-
matched healthy non-practitioners. Previous research
has associated cortical thickness with decreases in
cognitive and executive functioning losses that
come with aging. It is believed that the mechanism
behind these effects is quite simple: extreme
focus is an integral part of yoga practice, and
the brain is much like a muscle in the sense that
the more you challenge it, the more powerful
and resilient it becomes. If it is mood-enhancing
benefits you are looking for, lifting your hands to
the sky in utkatasana (“fierce pose”) does the same
thing for your spirit. Researchers have found that
as little as eight weeks of regular yoga practice can
have dramatic positive influence on levels
of anxiety and self-perception. Body
or mind, yoga promotes health and
wellness like few other activities can.
The unity of yoga and volatile aromatic compounds is as
natural as CPTG® essential oils. One of exercise science’s
most proven activities for lifelong wellness (yoga)
combined with one of nature’s most health-promoting
substances (essential oils) is a perfect match for a yoga
studio (or your living room). And now you don’t have
to guess or spend time experimenting with DIY blends
to find the best essential oils to complement your yoga
experience: through a combination of art and science,
the dōTERRA® Yoga Collection has done it for you. If you
are in need of centering, the synergy of the essential oils
contained in dōTERRA Align can help create a new sense
of peace and purpose. dōTERRA Anchor, the steadying
blend, combines several of the most stabilizing CPTG ®
oils, such as Patchouli and Cedarwood, to help you feel
rooted and grounded. In dōTERRA Arise, dōTERRA
has combined a number of the most uplifting terpene
compounds, including limonene from Grapefruit and
Lemon and bornyl acetate from Siberian Fir, to create
a symbiotic blend that is both elevating and calming.
For any novice or experienced yogi who is in need of
centering or inspiration, the Yoga Collection provides
distinct blends to help you get the most out of
your yoga practice.
Add a few drops of your favorite dōTERRA Yoga
Collection blend to a diffuser or your chakra points
and take your physical, mental, and spiritual health
to the next level.
Let’s start jotting down the reasons to integrate asanas and pranayamas into your regular
exercise routine. I hope you have a lot of ink in that pen. One of the primary reasons people
stop, or never really start, an exercise program is because physical exertion can hurt, acutely
and long-term. This is due both to unavoidable physiological processes (i.e., delayed onset
muscle soreness (DOMS)) and because the modern lifestyle promotes sedentary behaviors
that make us stiff and immobile. Yoga is one of the best ways to address these issues. One study found that yoga was an effective
means to expedite exercise recovery, decrease the intensity of DOMS, and improve post-exercise flexibility.
Adults who spend most of their days sitting experience a number of negative side effects. Not only are many adults lacking the
required flexibility and mobility to safely perform various physical activities (especially hip-hinged movements, such as squats and
deadlifts), but also chronic lower back and neck pain are becoming progressively more common. Yoga can help open up those hips
so you can squat like a toddler without discomfort or muscular inhibition, and systematic reviews have confirmed that yoga is one
of the single most potent methods of reducing pain and functional disability of the spine. And don’t forget that cardio. While the
methodology is totally different than logging miles on the treadmill, there is evidence that the positive physiological adaptations of
regular yoga may be similar to that of running. A systematic review found that yoga was just as effective as more traditional means
of cardiovascular exercise in lowering risk for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, and in improving various standard
metrics of cardiorespiratory health. A holistic exercise plan simply is not complete without some variation of yoga.
8 / WINTER 2018 LIVING MAGAZINE
doterra.com / 9