We know that yoga feels good, but what's really happening between the brain and the body when we're in Child's Pose?


It turns out, the mind-body connection during the practice goes deeper than we might think. According to Dr. John Denninger of the Benson-Henry Institute, certain genes turn on and off during yoga, triggering beneficial responses in the body and the brain.


In order to uncover which genes are affected by the practice, Denninger conducted an experiment which measured blood samples of individuals who ranged from yoga beginners to advanced practitioners. The results found that practicing yoga engages areas of the brain that helps with better response to stress, an improved immune system and even properties associated with slowing down the aging process.


"We saw changes in certain genes that suggested there were improvements that are probably the basis of a lot of the positive benefits that these [yoga] techniques have," Denninger said.


Check out the clip above to learn more about Denninger's experiment and watch the full segment about the science of yoga over on HuffPost Live[1] .


For more on the Third Metric, click here[2] .



Also on HuffPost:




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  • Poses 1 And 2: Arms High To Arms Wide


    From standing with feet parallel, inhale your arms high overhead. With eyes soft, exhale your arms out wide to shoulder height. Repeat this 9 times.

    Breathe under your arms, into all sides of your heart and let your breathing tell you when to move.

    Feel your body absorbing that motion.




  • Poses 3 And 4: Side Stretches


    Feet parallel, use your right hand to hold your left wrist and stretch to your right. Breathe 9 full breaths here, filling your entire body, from feet to fingertips.

    Let your eyes and neck relax. Then do the other side.

    Feel the sides of your body nourished and expansive.




  • Poses 5 And 6: Open Heart; Moving Within


    Inhale to open your arms wide and slightly higher than your head, welcoming, opening; then exhale to turn within, arms still straight to prayer hands way out in front of you.

    Repeat the inhale and exhale 9 times.

    Feel the vast space of your heart here for a moment.




  • Poses 7 And 8: Stretch Long To Forward Bend


    Interlace your hands above your head, turn your hands inside out and inhale to stretch from your feet all the way up to your hands.

    While suspending that inhalation, open your hands out to the sides and interlace them back behind you with palms facing each other, exhale and fold down over your straight legs with hands over your head to open your heart.

    Inhale hands out to the sides to interlace and turn inside out high above, hold that breath and open your arms to re-interlace behind you, exhale into the fold. Repeat 3-9 times.




  • Pose 9: Healing Hands To Body


    Place your left hand on your heart, your right hand on your belly. You've just revitalized your immune system, energized your circulation and digestion, and re-calibrated your nervous system.

    Feel the openings in your body, the quiet patience inside. This quick boost for your immunity is a very real step in the direction of healing.