Eastern medicine and therapeutics have worked for thousands of years without research. With the West more readily embracing many Eastern philosophies and techniques, practitioners and teachers of yoga are finding clinical validation for what they have been doing all along….
“Reputable American doctors are pursuing randomized yoga studies, and the National Institutes of Health is funding clinical trials of yoga for treating insomnia and multiple sclerosis. For more information, check www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Medical or “therapeutic” yoga is a far cry from the intense technique taught in health clubs. Popular yogas, such as Ashtanga, Bikram and Iyengar are physically demanding, usually causing participants to break a sweat. By contrast, therapeutic yoga focuses on breathing and meditation techniques that calm the mind, increase lung capacity and reduce stress. Health clubs “are much more into power, in-your-face kind of yoga,” says Vijay Vad, sports medicine specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.” Read more here.
“After analyzing the data, researchers found that the regular practice of Hatha yoga significantly improved the subjects’ flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, and balance. After eight weeks, the average flexibility of the yoga group improved by 13 percent to 35 percent and the gains were significantly greater than the non-yoga group, especially in shoulder and trunk flexibility, and ankle range of motion” (for complete data tables, visit www.acefitness.org).
“Regular yoga practice can help in weight management. Firstly, some of the asanas stimulate sluggish glands to increase their hormonal secretions. The thyroid gland, especially, has a big effect on our weight because it affects body metabolism. There are several asanas, such as the shoulder stand and the fish posture, which are specific for the thyroid gland. Fat metabolism is also increased, so fat is converted to muscle and energy. This means that, as well as losing fat, you will have better muscle tone and a higher vitality level.” Read more here.
