Yoga and Mind Body Therapies in Health and Disease: A Brief Review (original) (raw)
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Impact of yoga on mind-body management and its possible scientific mechanisms
Innovative Publication, 2016
This review article summarizes beneficial effects of yoga on different systems of body in maintaining of normal heath as well as in prevention and treatment of many non-communicable diseases. Current evidences of effects of yoga in many studies as well as the possible scientific mechanisms of these effects are explained in this article. Yoga is effective supportive adjunct with pharmacological treatment for therapy of some medical conditions. Yoga is beneficial in psychological stress related diseases, and diseases related to cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive etc. It also has a proven role in immune system, cancer and even at genetic level but extensive research is required for firmly establishment of such benefits. Possible scientific mechanisms of health benefits of yoga are by increased vagal activity and decrease sympathetic activity. It helps in normalisation of hypothalamo-pitutary-adrenal axis as well as the baroreflex sensitivity. Alteration of gene expression and level of inflammatory mediators are also noted in many studies. Yoga is relatively safe, cost-effective, and easy to be practice as a part of self-care behavioural treatment. In conclusion, everybody should practice yoga in day to day life for maintenance of better health and prevention of diseases as well as adjunct to medicines for treatment of some diseases under appropriate supervision.
Journal of Yoga and Physiotherapy, 2018
The background of yoga has its origin in ancient Indian philosophy. In contemporary society we can observe many schools or types of yoga. Each having its own specific emphasis regarding body postures, breathing techniques, relaxation technics, and meditation practices. That nurture awareness and state of consciousness. The application of yoga as a therapeutic means, take advantage of the number of psychological and physiological benefits. Yoga exercises may increase man flexibility, strength, coordination while the breading and meditation practices may silent the mind, hence evoke greater awareness and diminish anxiety, reduce distress, and thus enhance quality of life. Despite of growing body of clinical research on the therapeutic effects of yoga, there is still a lack of evidence regarding its clinical validity for number of symptoms and health conditions. In some research studies we can observe inconsistent evidence with some reporting positive effect of yoga interventions, but some are less conclusive. In our review we summarize the current evidence on the clinical effect of yoga intervention on various factors of physical and mental health.
Role of yoga in health and disease
Yoga as a mode of therapy has become extremely popular, and a great number of studies and systematic reviews offer scientific evidence of its potential in treating a wide range of psychosomatic conditions. Healthy life can be considered as a by-product of practicing yogic techniques since it has been observed that yoga practitioners are physically and mentally healthier and have better coping skills to stressors than the normal population. This review paper details some of the health promoting benefits of yoga as well as discusses the important cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal and metabolic conditions in which it may have preventive, supportive, curative and rehabilitative potential. Role of yoga in stress, mental health, cancer, pregnancy and childhood are also detailed. Mechanisms for such beneficial physiological, biochemical and psychological effects are discussed. Psycho-neuro-endocrine changes including correction of GABAergic activity, and parasympathetic activati...
Bushell et al 2020 Meditation and Yoga Practices as Potential Adjunct
Editor's Note: As an acute condition quickly associated with multiple chronic susceptibilities, COVID-19 has rekindled interest in, and controversy about, the potential role of the host in disease processes. While hundreds of millions of research dollars have been funneled into drug and vaccine solutions that target the external agent, integrative practitioners tuned to enhancing immunity faced a familiar mostly unfunded task. First, go to school on the virus. Then draw from the global array of natural therapies and practices with host-enhancing or anti-viral capabilities to suggest integrative treatment strategies. The near null-set of conventional treatment options propels this investigation. In this paper, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California-San Diego, Chopra Library for Integrative Studies, and Harvard University share one such exploration. Their conclusion, that "certain meditation, yoga asana (postures), and pranayama (breathing) practices may possibly be effective adjunctive means of treating and/or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection" underscores the importance of this rekindling. At JACM, we are pleased to have the opportunity to publish this work. We hope that it might help diminish in medicine and health the polarization that, like so much in the broader culture, seems to be an obstacle to healing. -John Weeks, Editor-in-Chief, JACM.
Role of Yoga in Non-Communicable Diseases: A Brief Review
Yoga understands health and well-being as a dynamic continuum of human nature and not merely a ‘state’ to be reached and maintained. Yoga helps the individual to establish “sukha sthanam”, which may be defined as a dynamic sense of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj, the visionary founder of Ananda Ashram at the ICYER, Pondicherry (www.icyer.com) and one of the foremost authorities on Yoga in the past century exclaimed lucidly, “Yoga chikitsa is virtually as old as yoga itself, indeed, the return of mind that feels separated from the Universe in which it exists represents the first yoga therapy. Yoga chikitsa could be termed as man’s first attempt at unitive understanding of mind-emotions-physical distress and is the oldest wholistic concept and therapy in the world.” To achieve this yogic integration at all levels of our being, it is essential that we take into consideration the all encompassing multi dimensional aspects ...
HEALTHCARE PRACTICE OF YOGA AND ITS EFFECT UPON SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
isara solutions, 2022
The objective of this study is to assess the findings of selected articles regarding the healthcare practice of yoga and its effect upon social and mental health.. As participation rates in mind-body fitness programs such as yoga continue to increase, it is important for health care professionals to be informed about the nature of yoga and the evidence of its many healthcare effects. Thus, this manuscript provides information regarding the healthcare effects of yoga as it has been studied in various populations concerning a multitude of different ailments and conditions. Healthcare practice of yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions and involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or limitations. Results from this study show that yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.
Better health through therapeutic effects of yoga
International Journal of Yogic, Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2018
The objective of this study is to assess the findings of selected articles regarding better health through therapeutic effects of yoga and to provide a comprehensive review of the benefits of regular yoga practice. As participation rates in mind-body fitness programs such as yoga continue to increase, it is important for health care professionals to be informed about the nature of yoga and the evidence of its many therapeutic effects. Thus, this manuscript provides information regarding the therapeutic effects of yoga as it has been studied in various populations concerning a multitude of different ailments and conditions. Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions and involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or limitations. Results from this study show that yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.
2012
In this paper, we discuss similarities between the psychosomatics in yoga, and contemporary medicine and psychology. Psychosomatics of yoga offers practices which can serve either as prevention of certain disorders, or as therapy for certain diseases. While psychosomatics in medicine mostly serves as an explanation for certain diseases, and as orientation in choosing the best therapy, psychosomatics in yoga mostly serves prevention. Prevention is also important for medicine, but it is kept aside in it, i.e. in most case medicine is called upon when you have an obvious disorder, although prevention is more emphasized in modern times. In this paper we point to the influence of yoga on development of transpersonal psychology, as a particular orientation within the personality theories, and psychotherapies. In particular it was influential in articulation of certain concepts, like "peak experience" and its meaning in life.