I suffered a brain injury a couple of years ago when I passed out and smashed my head on a TV and then on the floor. I fell unconscious and started shaking uncontrollably. For several minutes I was unconscious. Then the ambulance arrived and whisked me away to the hospital for a fMRI scan on my brain. I endured headaches, dizziness, and various mental challenges. And sadly, accidents like these are not rare.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, approximately 1.7 million cases of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occur in the U.S. every year. [1]
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) is a major cause of death and is on the rise. Approximately 155 people in the U.S die of TBIs every day according to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention [2].
Thankfully, we are seeing more research into brain injury recovery. For instance, research into concussions in sports, such as these in the NFL.
Brain injuries have serious consequences. According to The Washington Post, “99 per cent of brains donated by families of former NFL players showed signs of the neurodegenerative disease,”. [3]
Those who survive a TBI are often affected by side effects for the rest of their lives. For instance, impairment of memory, movement, sight, hearing, and emotional functioning.
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Science on Yoga And Brain Injuries
Naturally, those with traumatic brain injuries often seek out new treatments and forms of self-help.
The good news is, as Wikipedia states, “If an individual survives brain damage, the brain has a remarkable ability to adapt.”
Science shows that there are significant benefits of yoga for brain injuries.
Yoga is an exercise and healing system dating back thousands of years. Science has shown that there are major benefits of yoga [READ: Different types of yoga and their benefits].
Not only can yoga help with physical fitness, it can also improve brain functioning, balance, and coordination.
However, practising yoga with a brain injury is not easy. I found that I felt dizzy trying to perform asanas (yoga poses) and my mind would ask me to stop, telling me that I was attempting to do too much too soon. That’s why yo might like to start simply.
Benefits
Research conducted by Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis found that Adaptive Yoga (a practice specifically tailored to the needs of the person with the condition) can help adults with mild or traumatic brain injury and stroke. [4]
Researchers studied one aspect of brain injuries: the disconnection between mind and body.
Participants were given an eight-week yoga program. The results showed that balance increased 36 per cent, balance confidence 39 per cent, endurance 105 per cent, and lower-extremity strength 100 per cent.
Kristine Miller, assistant professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences’, says, “adapted yoga as a post-rehabilitation activity is particularly well-suited for patients who are on the road to recovery but not functioning well enough to exercise at a gym. Yoga is different from traditional rehabilitation exercises [because] it is more whole-body focused. It helps people learn to take their nervous systems to a more calm and relaxed state, which helps with healing.”
Yoga helps with cognitive impairment too.
A similar study performed in 2014 by the same team at Indiana University and the YMCA of Madison Country found similarly positive results of yoga on cognitive impairment.
Love Your Brain
One team that specialises in helping people with brain injuries with yoga, is the LoveYourBrain yoga series, which is available online. It’s a group created by Kevin Pearce, who himself suffered a brain injury in 2009.
Pearce says, “It’s amazing. You really can improve. But you have to be strict with yourself, get into a routine, and be consistent.” [5]
Practising adaptive yoga for brain injuries is a little different to regular yoga, and certainly does need to be done slowly and cautiously.
Flint Rehab, a team dedicated to improving life for people with brain injuries, says that the following are the best asanas for the brain.
Best Yoga Poses for Brain Injuries
Flint Rehab lists the following as the best asanas for brain injuries and wheelchair users. [6]
1: Eagle Pose (Garudasana)
This is one of the best asanas because it helps to stretch and relax the back and shoulders [read: yoga for back pain]. To perform this pose, inhale and lift your hands to your eyes. Cross your arms at the elbows with the hands intertwined. Exhale. Lift your arms above your head.
2: Side Stretch
Raise your right arm over your head on an inhale. Now, as you exhale, lean your torso to the left, stretching the right arm up over your head. Hold for a few breaths. Inhale and return your torso to regular position. Repeat on the other side.
3: Leg Stretch
The leg stretch is a simple yoga pose for stretching the hamstring. Inhale, lengthen your spine and sit up straight. Breathe out and reach your hands down around the back of your knee. Lift your knee up (comfortably). Hold for a few breaths and then relax.
4: Cat-Cow Pose
This is one of the simplest and most relaxing asanas. Good for brain injuries because it balances the spine and neck. To do this, get on all fours. Inhale, then raise your chin up as you tuck your stomach in and raise your bottom up (cow pose). Exhale, round your upper body forward and lower your chin.
5: Cactus Pose
Lift your arms to the sides, at shoulder height, and bend your elbows to 90 degrees. Keep your upper arms horizontal, your forearms vertical, then spin your palms to face your head. Press your elbows back, but don’t let your belly or head pop forward.
Conclusion
Science has proven that the brain is very adaptable and is capable of recovery. One of the best ways to achieve this is with yoga. Brain injuries can lead to impaired balance, sensations, and cognitive functions. But yoga can help the brain to recover and can improve quality of life.
To complement your physical yoga exercises you might also like to try some yoga meditation methods.
I hope you found this guide helpful.
Paul Harrison BSc is a qualified meditation teacher who believes in genuine, authentic meditation. He has more than 15 years experience in teaching meditation and mindfulness both to individuals and to corporations and is the author of four books on meditation. He has been featured in Psychology Today, Breathe Magazine, Healthline, Psych Central and Lion’s Roar.
Paul studied meditation in beautiful Oxford, UK, and Hamilton Ontario Canada, and earned his degree at Staffordshire University.
Paul’s biggest inspirations include Thich Nhat Hanh, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Jack Kornfield.
“My goal is to provide the most authentic meditation sessions so you can harness the power of your own mind for personal transformation” – Paul Harrison