28
HUMAN ANATOMY
The endocrine system is a slower, longer-
lasting control system than the nervous
system. It consists of glands that release
hormones into your bloodstream to be
delivered to specic cells.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Your brain controls the release of hormones
from endocrine glands to maintain a
balance inside your body, called homeostasis.
Stressors—from external environmental
conditions to internal or emotional
factors—aect this balance, but yoga
can help. For example, research suggests
that yoga may prevent and improve
symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
Hypothalamus
Controls other glands
Pituitary gland
Produces key hormones
Small intestine
Releases hormones
to help with
digestion
Testis
Produces male
sex hormones
Parathyroid gland
Regulates blood calcium levels
Thyroid gland
Regulates
metabolism and
blood calcium
Pancreas
Secretes insulin
and glucagon
to regulate
blood sugar
Pineal gland
Makes melatonin,
which aects sleep
FEMALE MALE
Ovaries produce
female sex
hormones
Adrenal gland
Regulates salt levels
and produces
adrenaline in
response to danger
Heart
Releases hormones
to regulate
blood pressure
US_028-029_Endocrine.indd 28 28/09/2018 12:36
29
Most
breathwork
can lower
metabolism
Meditation has
been shown to lower
metabolism
Islet
Beta cells in pancreas
release insulin
Your thyroid
regulates
metabolism
Pancreatic islets
Inside your pancreas, islets contain dierent
types of cells. Beta cells release insulin,
which allows your body cells to use glucose.
Homeostasis and allostasis
Homeostasis is your body’s state of
dynamic equilibrium. Most processes—
like the control of hormone release, blood
calcium and blood sugar levels, and
temperature—are tightly regulated
through negative feedback, which works
in a similar way to a thermostat. Nature
wants you to be in balance. Yogis referred
to this as samatva, which can be
translated as equilibrium or equanimity.
Allostasis is a process of maintaining
homeostasis amid stressors. The
more intense the stress, the heavier the
“allostatic load” and the more your cells
have to work to maintain equilibrium.
This increases the likelihood of
chronic diseases. Researchers
believe that yoga can reduce
allostatic load.
Metabolism
Most yoga practices tend to slow your
metabolism, which helps your body to
be more ecient with less. Although your
metabolism may slightly lower from relaxation-
based practices, this doesn’t mean you will
gain weight. A reduction in stress hormones
like cortisol also prevents your body from
holding onto fat.
PANCREAS
Your pancreas releases insulin to help sugar get into
your body cells. However, cells can become insulin-
resistant, which can cause disease. A review found
that yoga can improve glycemic control, lipid levels,
and body composition of fat in those with metabolic
syndrome and type 2 diabetes. A doctor-approved
reduction in medications was also found.
500lb
500lb
5lb 5lb
INCREASED LOAD REDUCED LOAD
Low blood levels of
hormone detected
Gland decreases
secretion of hormones
Hormone production
by gland turned down
Hormone production
by gland turned up
Gland releases more
hormone into the blood
Rising blood levels
of hormone detected
HOMEOSTASIS
ALLOSTASIS
US_028-029_Endocrine.indd 29 02/11/2018 14:01
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.