If we view the body as a biological machine, then yoga is the software update that recalibrates the hardware.
Research is increasingly showing that mind-body practices like yoga don’t just “relax” the mind; they actually influence the immune system at a molecular level.
When you practice yoga, you are essentially using a “bottom-up” approach to signal your genes and immune cells to shift from a state of pro-inflammatory stress to anti-inflammatory recovery.
- Activating the “Peacekeepers” (Tregs)
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are sensitive to the body’s internal environment. Chronic stress produces high levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which can suppress healthy immune function. Yoga helps activate these cells through:
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Deep, rhythmic breathing (Pranayama) stimulates the vagus nerve. This triggers the “Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway,” which has been shown to encourage the production and activity of Tregs.
• Cytokine Regulation: Studies suggest that consistent yoga practice reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-\bm{\alpha}. When these “fire-starter” chemicals decrease, the environment becomes much more favorable for “peacekeeper” cells to thrive and maintain balance. - Influencing the FOXP3 Gene
While yoga cannot “fix” a permanent inherited genetic mutation, it can influence Epigenetics—how your genes are expressed (turned “on” or “off”).
• The “Relaxation Response”: Research into the FOXP3 gene shows that its expression is linked to how the body handles stress. Mind-body interventions have been associated with a “down-regulation” of genes linked to inflammation and an “up-regulation” of genes involved in immune stability.
• DNA Repair: Some studies indicate that long-term yoga practitioners show lower levels of oxidative stress, which protects the integrity of the FOXP3 gene and prevents the kind of cellular damage that leads to harmful mutations.
