Yoga

Researchers found that a single 20-minute session of yoga helped people not only focus, but also absorb, retain and use new information later on. Those who practiced yoga did better on cognitive tests than those assigned a 20-minute session of vigorous aerobic activity.
 “Yoga is certainly a physical practice, but what sets it apart from other forms of exercise is the emphasis on awareness and the breath,” says Cleveland Clinic yoga program manager Judi Bar. “When you actually take time to notice how your breathing feels, how your body moves, and whether the breath is fast or slow, shallow or deep, you can begin to make real, beneficial changes to your breathing. Slowing and deepening the breath activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps reduce anxiety and stress. This relaxation response benefits brain function by calming your body and focusing your mind.”