There hundreds of millions of people, worldwide, who suffer from diabetes, and other related health problems. With less physical activity, these figures are expected to climb in the next 10 to 20 years. However, the Hatha yoga techniques provide a holistic perspective for type 2 diabetes. In addition to organ dysfunction, psychological, emotional, and mental stress; inactivity promotes the occurrence of the disease.
One of the most important benefits of yoga is its ability to reduce stress. This is one of the reasons so many modern people with hectic lives embrace it. Stress reduction is not only crucial for functioning well in everyday life, it can also help to prevent conditions such as anxiety and depression. A 2012 study at UCLA, for example, showed that doing a brief yogic meditation reduced stress in people who were caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients. Researchers determined that this practice contributed to reduced levels if inflammation in the bodies of those who participated. Inflammation is associated not only with stress, but also with the overall strength of the immune system.
As a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, students approach me everyday with questions about this unique and beautiful yoga. Thanks to all of you who have shared your thoughts so freely with me! Your open curiosity provides me with confirmations and “a-ha” moments about this yogic path of self discovery, soul searching, healing, and awakening.
In the journal “Medical Hypotheses,” psychiatrist Eric Leskowitz of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, theorizes that the pineal gland might be the scientific explanation for what ancient Yogis described as the third eye, or crown chakra. If so, the balancing act of Yoga poses, breathing, meditation, and chanting may be all we need to mend our minds and get our circadian rhythms back in sync.
In another research article published in 2011 in US-based The Journal of Clinical and Applied Research and Education, Diabetes Care, the research study concluded that “yoga can be used as an effective therapy in reducing oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes”. It further stated that yoga along with standard care helps in reducing body-mass index and improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.
Yoga offers postures or asanas that can work every joint, muscle, ligament and tendon of the body. When done together, in the correct order and under knowledgeable guidance, these seemingly unrelated postures work in harmony to massage all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner. This stimulation and massage of the organs in turn keep away disease and often provides a forewarning of a likely onset of disorder.
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Another added benefit that yoga for runners offers is an increase in lung capacity. This is especially attractive for marathon runners…
A number of independent studies have confirmed these initial results. While each study targets a specific condition or personality type, the results invariably show that yoga is practical method for dealing with a number of medical conditions. As the link between yogic science and health is examined further, experts expect to uncover still more dramatic results.
While you may never run a marathon or achieve a perfect dance pose, you can greatly increase your health and well being by regularly practicing yoga. Yoga helps to focus your mind and a focused mind can help shape your body! The mind is powerful and what we think we can become.