How does stretching benefit the brain?

Stretching, particularly within the context of yoga, offers significant benefits for the brain. According to Andrew Huberman, yoga isn’t just about physical flexibility but also enhances mental functions related to stress and pain management. Practitioners often exhibit increased pain tolerance due to larger insula regions in their brains, which improve internal awareness and ability to manage stress. This suggests that the brain circuits activated during yoga and stretching can broadly enhance various life aspects, making yoga a recommended practice for anyone looking to improve flexibility, mental resilience against stress, and overall brain health 1.