Yoga is a complete art and science of health promotion, prevention, healing and enhancing longevity. The long term-practice of yogic and lifestyle practices such as postures, breath regulation, natural diet, social support and yogic stress management techniques can stimulate telomerase activity and lengthen telomere as a potential marker of youthfulness (Ornish et al., 2008). Additionally, the evidence-based findings made regarding mind-body efficacies on health have argued the decrease of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, cytokines, c-reactive protein etcetera and increase in counts of IgA, T cells, and NK Cells(Harkess, Ryan, Delfabbro, & Cohen-Woods, 2016; Saatcioglu, 2013) as the result of regular mind-body practices have established yoga as the most inexpensive and viable alternative for boosting immune system and maintaining youthfulness.
Harkess, K. N., Ryan, J., Delfabbro, P. H., & Cohen-Woods, S. (2016). Preliminary indications of the effect of a brief yoga intervention on markers of inflammation and DNA methylation in chronically stressed women. Translational Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2016.234
Ornish, D., Lin, J., Daubenmier, J., Weidner, G., Epel, E., Kemp, C., … Blackburn, E. H. (2008). Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study. The Lancet Oncology, 9(11), 1048–1057. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70234-1
Saatcioglu, F. (2013). Regulation of gene expression by yoga, meditation and related practices: A review of recent studies. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 6(1), 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2012.10.002
