| Simply put, memory is the mental activity of recalling | | | | physical body and the breath thereby improving |
| information that you have learned or experienced. | | | | concentration and focus. |
| Focus and concentration are the ability to tune in your | | | | 2) Pranayama focuses on breathing techniques and |
| full attention on a given situation, subject or object. It is | | | | mastering the life-force. These not only help with focus |
| important to note that memory and concentration and | | | | and concentration but also help more oxygen reach |
| focus all work hand in hand. To improve memory | | | | the brain. In pranayama, the mind is focused on the |
| requires that you first improve concentration and | | | | breath as it flows in and out of the body. Oxygen and |
| focus. It is imperative that you are first able to focus | | | | pranic (energy) are also increased in the body and |
| and concentrate your attention so that you can | | | | brain by the regulation of breath. Thus, pranayama |
| properly store information in your brain. Only after the | | | | increases focus and concentration as well as |
| information is properly stored can it be retrieved from | | | | nourishes the brain. Pranayama is greatly beneficial in |
| memory. | | | | improving memory power. In Pranayama, the psyche |
| Has this ever happened to you? Just moments ago, | | | | of the individual is concentrated on the breath as it |
| you were introduced to a few new people. You shook | | | | courses in and out of the body. Hence, Pranayama |
| their hands and started a conversation. Now you are | | | | modifies concentration and focus in a positive manner |
| standing there, half paying attention to the | | | | as well as nurtures the brain. |
| conversation, trying to remember their names. Or | | | | 3) Dharana quite specifically is the process of holding |
| maybe you've lost your keys for the fifth time this | | | | the mind to one place, object or idea.Dharana |
| week. Or maybe you struggle with your focus and | | | | techniques are specifically designed for the mind. It |
| concentration in meetings, have a hard time | | | | works on focusing concentration and attention rather |
| understanding directions, or have difficulty with focus | | | | than letting the mind wander. This kind of focused |
| and concentration when standing over your golf shot. | | | | attention is a form of mind training as it becomes |
| These situations can happen to anyone at any age. | | | | easier to concentrate and remember as you practice |
| However, if these lapses in memory and concentration | | | | more. |
| seem to happen to you more frequently than you'd | | | | Dharana or the practice of focus and concentration |
| like, then you need some help. | | | | affects and reduces the occupied mind. The mind is |
| Does stress help to improve memory and | | | | kept firm at one place instead of letting it wander here |
| concentration? | | | | and there. This reduces strain on the mind. The mental |
| The simple answer to that question is yes. Stress | | | | strength increases. With such habitual focus and |
| actually improves memory and concentration at first, | | | | concentration, the work is done effectively and |
| but chronic, long-term stress makes memory and | | | | efficiently. The daily practice of dharana reduces the |
| concentration worse. | | | | wavering attitude of mind and a different kind of |
| When you are under stress for a short period of time, | | | | mental clarity can be observed throughout the day. |
| you actually improve memory and concentration. Think | | | | Dharana acts upon and cuts down the stress of the |
| about a zebra casually eating grass in a field. Then | | | | preoccupied mind. |
| suddenly a lion appears and comes running through the | | | | 4) With Dhyana (meditation) we develop awareness. If |
| grass, the zebra reacts quickly to get away. The | | | | you can make the time to take care of yourself by |
| zebra's neurological system surges with chemicals. | | | | meditating for just 20 minutes a day, know that these |
| Some of these chemicals go immediately to the brain | | | | efforts can help you to improve memory and |
| and increase the zebra's ability to focus, concentrate | | | | concentration. A calm and well rested mind (as |
| and escape the lion. | | | | opposed to an agitated, overly worked mind) is much |
| Unfortunately humans are under constant stress. Our | | | | more agile and flexible. |
| days are full of lions running at us through the field. Our | | | | Meditation takes dharana even further as it calls for |
| lions come in the form of financial worries, problems at | | | | intense mental focus and concentration. During |
| work or with family, or just driving through morning | | | | meditation you empty the content of your |
| traffic. This constant stress we are under actually | | | | consciousness completely. Dharana quite specifically is |
| damages the part of the brain that is responsible for | | | | the process of holding the mind to one place, object or |
| both short and long-term memory and concentration. | | | | idea. Eliminating all extraneous thoughts, basically giving |
| One surefire way to alleviate this problem is by making | | | | your mind some much needed rest. |
| time in your busy schedule to relax and meditate. Your | | | | Meditation is a maneuver beyond the art of Dharana, |
| brain needs some time off from worrying. | | | | calling for even more psychological and intellectual |
| The best methods that I know of to improve memory | | | | diligence and concentration. The art of meditation either |
| and concentration are the practices of yoga and | | | | by itself or in alignment with yoga asana and |
| meditation. The techniques used in yoga and meditation | | | | Pranayama clears the mind of unreasonable and |
| not only improve muscle tone and flexibility but they | | | | superfluous thoughts. Unrestrained thinking eats up |
| also have been proven to stimulate the brain and | | | | mental energy and clouds the mind from interpreting |
| nervous system in ways that can improve memory | | | | and perceiving things clearly. In Yoga, meditation helps |
| and concentration. | | | | to energize the brain as well as get the mind to focus |
| Some of the best yoga practices for improving | | | | and concentrate. |
| memory and concentration and focus are the asana, | | | | 5) Self Affirmations: The next key factor to improve |
| pranayama, dharana and meditation techniques and | | | | memory and concentration is the power of positive |
| positive affirmations. | | | | thinking. Self-affirmation can stimulate your brain and |
| 1) Asana - Yoga Postures: includes using a gazing | | | | give you the boost that you need to focus and |
| point (drishti) while performing balancing postures, spine | | | | concentrate better. It has been proven to work. |
| lengthening exercises and inverted postures (like the | | | | Saying positive phrases to yourself over and over |
| headstand). Using the drishti improves focus and | | | | again will unconsciously help you to convince yourself |
| concentration while the exercises stimulate the | | | | of its truth. There is no greater power than believing in |
| nervous system. In Asana practice we focus on our | | | | your self to improve memory and concentration. |