​The benefits of yogic practices for mental and physical health have been experienced by many people for thousands of years.

 

An understanding of some aspects of yogic lifestyle provided the groundwork for the development of the field of Lifestyle Medicine with benefits for health, quality of life, longevity and the prevention and reversal of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases. ​​​

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Applications of various aspects of yoga such as meditation (Dhyana), mindfulness (Smrti) and other derivations of yogic practices such as 'breathwork' (Pranayama),  'progressive relaxation' (Yoga Nidra), and cognitive therapies (Raja Yoga) have begun to be integrated into western culture and mental health therapies over the more recent decades. ​​

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Meditation has repeatedly been shown to induce changes in the structure and function of the brain associated with improved concentration and working memory, improved emotional regulation and decreased reactivity to stress.