By Kimaya Singh and Faye Martins
Can Yoga as a healing method help? If you practice yoga regularly, you know the benefits it provides. You know the light, uplifted feeling of exhilaration that sets in directly after a good yoga class or the long, lean feel of your muscles after a good stretch. Perhaps you pose as the afternoon slump sets in to get you through the rest of the workday, or maybe you take a few deep breaths before giving a big presentation to clear your mind and focus. The health benefits of yoga training go much deeper than that. Yoga training has been proven to have positive healing effects for several common ailments, chronic pain, and diseases.
Mental and Physical Benefits
Yoga as a healing method can also benefit people with mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other conditions due to trauma or abuse. The critical aspect of healing lies in the mind-body connection that yogic methods provide. Victims can learn to become more conscious of what is happening in their bodies.
Coping with the Past
Additionally, those suffering from emotional or mental baggage learn how to regulate stress through breathing. Yoga can teach people to accept their selves as they are, letting go of negative self-images. People suffering from panic attacks could benefit significantly from regular practice, including soldiers, physical, mental, and sexual abuse victims, or other types of trauma.
Symptoms and Ailments
Yoga has proven to lessen the symptoms, or eliminate them, in many common ailments, including asthma, arthritis, insomnia, heart disease, diabetes, back pain, and it is a recognized healing method. Studies have shown that just practicing a regular yoga routine regularly can give results of overall better health.
Yoga for Insomnia
If you’re one of the millions of people suffering from insomnia, you may wonder if yoga can help. The answer is yes. Yoga is an excellent way to promote better sleep. Here are six yoga techniques that can help you get the restful sleep you need:
1. Child’s pose: This pose helps to relax the mind and body and can be done by anyone, regardless of fitness level.
2. Corpse pose: This final resting pose is perfect for promoting deep relaxation and can be done with or without props.
3. Legs up the wall pose: This restorative pose helps to relieve tension in the legs and lower back and can be done with or without props.
4. Breathing Exercises: Many different types of breathing exercises can be done to promote relaxation. One simple breathing exercise is slow deep breathing.
5. Meditation: Meditation is a great way to quiet the mind and promote relaxation. There are many ways to meditate, so find one that works best for you and stick with it.
Yoga for Arthritis
If you are looking for a way to ease the pain of arthritis, yoga may be the perfect solution. Yoga is known for its ability to reduce stress and improve flexibility, both of which can help to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. When practicing yoga for arthritis, it is essential to choose gentle and easy poses on the joints. The following three poses are some of the best for those with arthritis:
Chair Pose:
This pose can be done seated or standing. If seated, place your feet flat on the ground in front of you and your hands on your knees. If standing, begin with your feet together and your hands at your sides. Slowly raise your arms above your head and bend at the waist, bringing your hands to meet in front of you. Hold this pose for several deep breaths.
Puppy Pose:
Start on all fours with your hands beneath your shoulders and your knees beneath your hips. Slowly walk your hands forward until they are in front of your head. Then, sink your hips toward the floor and rest your forehead on the ground. Hold this pose for several deep breaths.
Cat/Cow Pose:
Start on all fours with your hands beneath your shoulders and your knees beneath your hips. As you inhale, slowly arch your back and look up towards the ceiling. As you exhale, gently round your back and tuck your chin towards your chest. Repeat this sequence slowly for several breaths.
Yoga for Back Pain
Yoga is an effective method for managing back pain. In a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, researchers found that yoga was more effective than standard medical care in treating chronic back pain. Yoga is a mind-body practice that can help you learn to control your body and your environment to manage your pain effectively.
The Baggage of Chronic Back Pain
Yoga can also help you cope with the stress and anxiety that often accompany chronic pain. In addition to practicing yoga, you can do a few other things to ease your back pain. Be sure to maintain good posture and alignment when you stand, sit, and sleep. Try to avoid lifting heavy objects; if you must lift something heavy, use proper lifting techniques. When you exercise, focus on strengthening your back and abdomen muscles to help support your spine.
Yoga Poses with Purpose
There are also specific poses that work to relieve pain or discomfort in specific areas of the body. Relaxation and breathing are beneficial in decreasing blood pressure and relieving stress. The Forward Bend, the Wall Plank, and Downward-Facing Dog are good poses for relieving back pain. For arthritic fingers, the Flower pose can help. The Shoulder Stand and the Fish posture focuses specifically on the thyroid gland and can be used to target health problems related to the thyroid.
What are Yoga’s Limitations?
Yoga will not provide a miracle cure when wishing to heal the body from severe ailments like cancer. Still, it will encourage the body to heal, improve circulation, and balance the energy in the body to allow this Yogic healing method to work. The mind and the body work powerfully together, and sometimes people need to trust their bodies to heal and have faith and patience that they will.
Yoga Under Scrutiny
Yoga has been shown to have many benefits for physical and mental health. Some scientific and medical research on yoga as a healing method includes the following:
1. A study published in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy found that yoga can help relieve pain in people with chronic low back pain.
2. A review of scientific literature by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) found that yoga may help reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
3. Yoga has also been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to a review of scientific literature by NCCIH.
4. Research suggests that yoga may also help improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue. Science suggests that yoga can be an effective healing method for various conditions. If you are considering using yoga to treat a condition, you must consult a healthcare provider beforehand to ensure that it is appropriate for you.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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Nice, besides I loved yoga so much because of the supernatural healing power of an exclusive type of yoga in itself, quiets and calms!
Yoga Training has been proven to have positive healing effects for a number of common ailments, chronic pain, and diseases. Really Yoga keeps health good. Thanks for posting this good article.