Research shows that yoga can potentially impact aging at the cellular level. In one study, those who followed this practice experienced a 43% increase in telomerase enzyme activity, while people who simply relaxed experienced a 4% increase. Telomerase is an important factor that slows down cell aging.
Some very experienced yogis can reduce their metabolic rate so much that their condition becomes similar to that of hibernating animals. In animals, this resting phase has been shown to extend lifespan. Some experts say this may also be true in humans.
So is there any direct evidence that yoga prolongs life? A study of 22,598 U.S. residents found that, on average, 8.5 years after the survey, the risk of death among those who practiced yoga was almost 2/3 lower than among those who did not. But there was a caveat: Yogis were often much younger than the average participant. When scientists took age into account, there was no difference in life expectancy between different groups of people.
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Source: Ferra
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