Introduction
You know I read somewhere that around 36.7 million Americans have practiced Yoga at one point in their lives. I am one of those. But Yoga isn’t only for women as some may think. It’s even something men do…I’ve seen it personally!
Research shows practicing Yoga increases one’s quality of life since it often helps with various health issues and general well-being. Have any of you in here taken a Yoga class?
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Body
Let’s begin by taking a look at Yoga and why it is so prevalent in the US. Many people across the US and the entire globe practice the age-old art of Yoga primarily for its health benefits. According to the 2015 Psychology Today article titled, “Why Does Anyone do Yoga Anyway?” Marlynn Wei states yoga can increase your flexibility, improve your balance, and decrease your cholesterol. On average, yoga participants lost five pounds, decreased their blood pressure, and lowered their low-density (“bad”) cholesterol by 12 points. (Wei, 2015)
In addition to that Yoga is becoming more and more available through different gyms, colleges and even free public rec centers. It is even being promoted among medical providers. In a 2018 Supportive Care in Cancer article titled, “Increasing Provider Awareness For Yoga and Meditation Classes for Cancer Patients.” Mallory Koula states increasing provider awareness regarding the health-promoting benefits of such supportive services for cancer patients could result in greater service utilization as well as physical and emotional benefits for patients. (Koula, 2018)That means the more medical providers push cancer patients to participate in Yoga the quicker they can reap the benefits that comes along with it.
I want to now go over a few of the different types of Yoga that are out there. The original and the most familiar and widespread form of Yoga is called Hatha Yoga. That’s likely the type of Yoga class you have taken if you’ve done Yoga. In a 2010 Royal Pharmaceutical Society article titled, “How Effective is Yoga.” Edzard Ernst states in the West, 'Hatha yoga' is widely used, which includes postural exercises (asanas), breath control (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana). (Ernst, 2010) This means that this form of Yoga is probably the most used and people friendly form of Yoga out there which includes many levels of relaxation and focus.
Another type of Yoga is Karma Yoga it is meant to teach spiritual liberation making you become neutral in most circumstances of life whether they are good or bad. It is seen as the spiritual path of Yoga. In a 2019 Himalayan Yoga Association article titled, “Karma Yoga: The path to unselfish action to spiritual liberation.” Himanshu Joshi states it is the path of unselfish action to spiritual liberation. Its teaching says that everyone should act according to dharma without thinking of personal consequences and fruits if he or she is seeking spirituality. (Joshi, 2019)
This is important because it can teach one to be more positive in life and have the ability to attain neutrality in their everyday life and affairs. So ultimately what I have wanted to talk about is the health benefits of Yoga. There are too many to even go over in such a small amount of time, but I will go over some important ones. In a 2008, Review Article titled, “Role of Yoga and Diabetes.” B.K. Sahay stated, “yoga practices help in controlling diabetes by the following mechanisms: exercise effect, changes in biochemical and hormonal profile, elimination of stress and instilling a sense of discipline.” (Sahay, 2008) This means Yoga has significant impact within the body even changing the hormonal profile. Gaining a sense of discipline is also important in managing diabetes because suffers will have a better since of what is good and bad as far as food is concerned.
Yoga also plays an important role in managing the symptoms of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. In a 2014, Journal of Psychiatric Practice article titled, “Self-Reported Benefits and Risks of Yoga in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder.” Lauren Weinstock states when asked what impact yoga had on their life, participants responded most commonly with positive emotional effects, particularly reduced anxiety, positive cognitive effects (e.g., acceptance, focus, or “a break from my thoughts”), or positive physical effects (e.g., weight loss, increased energy). Some respondents considered yoga to be significantly life changing.” (Weinstock, 2014) Those struggling with mental illness will be able to benefit by reducing the agitations they feel.” Those struggling with bipolar disorder for example have found life changing benefits from Yoga practice. I personally would recommend a Yoga class to anyone I personally know who suffers from bipolar disorder because doing whatever possible to manage the is so critical.
I am going to leave you with this, yoga is more than beneficial in different faucets of life. Different Yoga types have different benefits, but all have some sort of benefit to our health and over all well-being. The positive benefits on mental illness is of great importance because managing symptoms of any mental illness can often be difficult.
References
- Ernst, E, 2010, How Effective is Yoga, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Volume 15 (4), pgs. 274-279, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7166.2010.01049.x
- Joshi, H, 2019, Karma Yoga: The path to unselfish action to spiritual liberation, Himalayan Yoga Association
- Koula, M, 2018, Increasing provider awareness of and recommendations for yoga and mediation classes for cancer patients, Supportive Care in Cancer, Volume 26 (10), pgs. 3635-3640, doi: 10.1097/01.pra.0000454779.59859.f8
- Sahay, B.K, 2008, Role of Yoga and Diabetes, Review Article, Volume 55, pgs.121-126
- Wei, M, 2015, Why Does Anyone do Yoga, Anyway?, Psychology Today
- Weinstock, M|, 2014, Self-Reported Benefits and Risks of Yoga in Individuals with Bipolar Disorder, Journal of Psychiatric Practice, Volume 20 (5), pgs 345-352 doi: 10.1097/01.pra.0000454779.59859.f8
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