Yoga and Your Health
By Janis Hashe, WellNest Yoga Instructor
Dr. Rick was kind enough to share with me a recent Mayo Clinic e-newsletter containing an article listing the health benefits of a yoga practice.
My first thought was, “Yay! Yoga really has gone mainstream now!” If respected Western medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic are openly endorsing beginning a yoga practice, that “legitimizes” it in the minds of many who may still have lingering, “That’s just too New Age-y woo woo for me.”
I’d also like to briefly address something I have found to be a problem for some potential students: Some people question whether yoga is a “religion.” If so, they feel, there may be conflict between their own spiritual traditions and yoga.
To answer that, a mini-history: Yoga is an ancient practice, pre-dating even the current forms of Hinduism and Buddhism. Originally, it was created to facilitate meditation, deepening the practitioner’s connection with the body and enabling him to meditate for longer periods of time. But as practiced by most Western teachers, it is a form of exercise that deepens breathing, encourages flexibility and strength, and promotes relaxation.
For teachers trained in classic hatha or raga yoga, such as I have been, there is a mind-body-spirit connection that is integral to the practice. However, there is absolutely no desire to “convert” anyone to anything. Most people find, in fact, that the ability to relax and go deeper into yourself allows them to further the traditions of their own spiritual paths, whatever they are.
Here’s an excerpt from what the Mayo Clinic had to say about yoga:
The health benefits of yoga
The potential health benefits of yoga are numerous and may include:
•Stress reduction. With its quiet, precise movements, yoga draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and toward calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.
•Increased fitness. As you learn and refine new poses, you may enjoy improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength. And this means you’re less likely to injure yourself in other physical endeavors or in your daily activities.
•Management of chronic health conditions. Yoga might help with a variety of health conditions, such as cancer, depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia, by helping with sleep problems, fatigue and mood. Yoga also can help reduce heart rate and blood pressure.
•Weight loss. If you’re overweight or have binge-eating disorder, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to gain control of your eating and drop those extra pounds.
The newsletter goes on to say: “While you shouldn’t expect yoga to cure you or offer 100 percent relief, it can help some health conditions when combined with standard treatment. And if you already enjoy good health, yoga can be an enjoyable supplement to your regular fitness routine.”
Might I just add to that a personal note: I first began practicing yoga when I was 14, or 43 years ago, coming back to it seriously about 15 years ago. I have been teaching for the past seven years. I find that my overall health has benefited enormously over the years, with increased flexibility and strength, an improved immune system and the ability to manage my health with no need of medications.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with further yoga questions if you have them, and you are welcome anytime in our Absolute Beginner’s class on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the WellNest. The first class is always free!
Namaste,
Janis