Yoga and Memory

Yoga and Memory are closely interlinked. In fact one aspect of Yoga, viz Yoga therapy deals with cures for a variety of conditions, one of them is lapses of memory. Then there is Yoga for Alzheimer’s as well. Since time immemorial man has had a desire for an excellent memory. While some folks are born with wonderful memories, not all are so fortunate! The point here is – is it possible to enhance the quality of your memory? There are people with astonishing capabilities, like being able to perform up to 10 tasks at a time or even, for that matter a hundred.

No doubt, you might even ask whether it is necessary at all especially when you have high-tech gizmos like computers, calculators and other memory devices to help you. A good memory may have been inevitable and obligatory at a time when such devices were not around, not yet invented. Then again, it is worthy of note that even people with these aids at their disposal look up to and acknowledge those with a fantastic memory. In fact, the wistfully wish their memories was half as good. There is no doubting the fact that that memory plays a crucial role in attaining success in life. This is both in the conventional sense besides in fields of personal growth, not to mention spiritual development.

A human being’s ability to remember and forget is among the most complex and fascinating functions of the mind. True, there are memory lapses, but, they too are extremely selective. Most of us remember some things while we forget others. In many instances you can find simple and logical reasons and justifications for this – for instance, a phone number that you call up frequently, sets in motion a specific brain circuit. Subsequently, data flows very fast along this well traveled path, and recollection takes place. Oftentimes, though, people can naturally remember data that they seldom used.

Yoga therapy postulates that remembering an event depends upon two things. First of all, the memory trace, which is the memory laid down in the brain. Secondly, something in the immediate situation that acts as a recovery signal, or reminder, to wake up the memory or set off the memory trace. For instance, if you read about the natural world it might help you clearly remember previous vacation at a wildlife sanctuary. Sometimes, astonishingly, you may remember all other minute details as well.