Yoga and the Ancient Knowledge That Is Now Being Proved by Science
- Lindsey Wood
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
For thousands of years, yogis have spoken of energy flowing through the body like a river—sometimes gentle and free, sometimes blocked and turbulent. They named these rivers nadis and described energy centres called chakras that, when aligned, led to balance and wellbeing.
Fast forward to today, and modern science is catching up.
What ancient traditions once described through intuitive, embodied knowledge, researchers are now mapping out using microscopes, neural imaging, and fascia dissection. It’s not only fascinating—it’s a bridge between old and new, East and West, intuition and evidence.
Let’s explore.
🌀 Nadis, Meridians & Chi: The Invisible Highways
In yogic tradition, nadis are energetic pathways—said to number in the thousands—that crisscross the body and carry prana, our life force. Chinese medicine speaks of meridians, which carry qi or chi through a similar network. And acupuncture, which is based on these meridians, has been practiced for over 2,000 years.
Science didn’t pay much attention to these systems for a long time—because they couldn’t be “seen.” But in recent decades, something fascinating emerged: the fascia.
✨ The Fascial Connection
Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, bone, and organ in the body. For years, it was overlooked in anatomy labs—peeled away and discarded. But now we know better. Fascia is not just structural—it’s sensory, communicative, and intelligent.
Thomas Myers, author of Anatomy Trains, and Dr. Carla Stecco, a leading fascia researcher, have shown that fascia forms a dynamic communication network, richly innervated and responsive. It’s not a stretch to suggest fascia is the physical counterpart to what yogis called nadis or what acupuncturists trace with needles.
One 2021 study in Frontiers in Physiology noted:
“Fascial tissue forms a body-wide tensional force transmission network… playing a role in pain, proprioception, and interoception.”
Sound familiar?
🧠 Nervous System Meets Energy Body
The nervous system is another layer. When we practice yoga—especially pranayama (breathwork), slow movement, and meditation—we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, our “rest and digest” state.
Ancient yogis didn’t call it that—they spoke of Sushumna Nadi, the central channel where energy rises during deep meditative states. This aligns closely with the vagus nerve, which runs from the brainstem through the chest and gut. This nerve plays a key role in regulating inflammation, heart rate, digestion, and emotional wellbeing.
A 2022 study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine showed that breathing techniques used in yoga can significantly improve vagal tone—enhancing resilience to stress and supporting mental health.
🔮 Chakras & Endocrine Harmony
Each chakra, from Muladhara at the base of the spine to Sahasrara at the crown, has long been associated with emotions, physical function, and states of consciousness.
Modern science draws parallels between these energy centres and the endocrine glands:
The throat chakra and the thyroid.
The heart chakra and the thymus.
The sacral chakra and the reproductive organs.
While not perfectly mapped, these connections are more than symbolic. As yoga influences the nervous system and breath, it in turn affects the hormonal system—helping to regulate mood, fertility, sleep, and metabolism.
🌿 East Meets West—And We All Benefit
Whether you call it prana, qi, energy, or neurochemical signalling, the message is the same: the body is alive with intelligence, connection, and flow.
Science is giving us the language and data. Ancient cultures gave us the tools and wisdom. Yoga stands beautifully in the middle—as both a practice and a philosophy that honours both.
In Practice: What This Means for Your Mat
When you come to your mat, you’re not just stretching muscles.
You’re hydrating fascia.
You’re calming your nervous system.
You’re clearing pathways for energy to move more freely.
You’re tapping into a lineage of knowledge that has been whispered, chanted, and now peer-reviewed.
So next time you roll out your mat, take a moment to honour that—your practice is ancient, modern, and timeless all at once.
Wildly wise, warmly yours,
Lindsey
Namaste 🙏
📚
Scientific Studies & Expert Sources
Fascia as a Body-Wide Communication Network
Schleip, R., & Müller, D. G. (2013).
Title: Training principles for fascial connective tissues: scientific foundation and suggested practical applications
Journal: Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 17(1), 103–115.
Fascia’s Role in Sensory and Proprioceptive Communication
Stecco, C., Porzionato, A., et al. (2011).
Title: The fascial system and its role in the pathology of the musculoskeletal system
Journal: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 33, 273–284.
Fascia and Tensegrity in Movement and Pain
Findley, T. W., & Shalwala, M. (2013).
Title: Fascia research—implications for novel pain treatments
Journal: International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, 6(3), 3–8.
Yoga and the Vagus Nerve (Autonomic Nervous System)
Streeter, C. C., Gerbarg, P. L., Saper, R. B., Ciraulo, D. A., & Brown, R. P. (2012).
Title: Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder
Journal: Medical Hypotheses, 78(5), 571–579.
Breathing, Vagal Tone, and Mental Health
Zaccaro, A., Piarulli, A., Laurino, M., et al. (2022).
Title: How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psycho-physiological correlates of slow breathing
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(4), 873.
Chakras and the Endocrine System (Philosophical & Comparative Texts)
Judith, Anodea. Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System. Llewellyn Publications, 2004.
Hiroshi Motoyama. Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness, Quest Books, 1981.
(These are foundational texts drawing comparisons between chakras and endocrine glands.)
Thomas Myers – Anatomy Trains
Myers, T. (2014). Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists. Elsevier.
(Myers links fascial pathways with energy lines, drawing direct parallels to meridians and nadis.)
Acupuncture, Meridians, and Fascial Pathways
Langevin, H. M., & Yandow, J. A. (2002).
Title: Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes
Journal: The Anatomical Record, 269(6), 257–265.
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