Yoga : Endocrine Health
Stress & Doshas
Ayurveda views these imbalances as an indication that the body’s natural state of harmony, or doshas, has been disrupted. Stress is often seen as a key factor that aggravates the doshas, leading to an overstimulated nervous system, disrupted digestion, and a cascade of hormonal irregularities.
There is no direct equivalent of the endocrine system in Ayurveda as it views health through the balance of systems (doshas, dhatus, and strotas) rather than focussing on individual organs or glands and their individual function.
In both Ayurveda and Hatha Yoga, the endocrine system holds a significant place in maintaining health. The intricate network of glands secretes hormones that regulate everything from growth and metabolism to mood and emotional wellbeing. But our lifestyles (with poor management of stress), can severely disrupt hormonal balance, resulting in conditions like hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, and insulin resistance.
Hatha Yoga, offers a powerful means of recalibrating the body’s endocrine system. Through a combination of asana (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation, yoga gently stimulates various glands - like the pituitary, pineal, and adrenal glands - helping them function more efficiently. For example, the Cat/Cow (Chakravakasana) pose help release tension in the spine and improve circulation to the adrenal glands, which aids in stress management and supports overall hormonal balance. The practice of deep, conscious breathing helps regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is crucial for stress management.
By bringing the body into a more relaxed state, pranayama increases oxygen flow, reduces the stress response, and encourages the release of endorphins, natural mood stabilisers produced by the body. This process helps to restore hormonal balance, ease tension, and support overall endocrine health.
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