THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA

 

Yoga is not a passing fad or the flavor of the month. It has helped people feel good and learn more about themselves for thousands of years. Yoga is a powerful therapeutic modality for people with back problems, menstrual discomfort, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, multiple sclerosis, asthma, cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes, Hiv/AIDS, cancer, depression and anxiety disorders.  This is not to say that yoga cures these ailments and illnesses. But it does reduce tension, anxiety, blood pressure, release toxins and impurities, increase circulation and pulmonary function, and promote feelings of relaxation and well-being.

 

How does yoga do all this? The practice of yoga reestablishes physical and mental equilibrium, creating balance between body, mind and spirit. One usually begins the practice of yoga by working on the physical postures known as asanas. The word asana means to bring together with the breath that which is eternal. The breath brings the prana , the eternal life force (energy), into the body. In yoga it is linked with the flow of the breath and the movement of the asana. The asana opens the body releasing energy blocks and promoting the harmonious flow of prana throughout the body. This linkage is what makes yoga different from “exercise”.

 

The asanas bend the spine six different ways: forward, backward, side-to-side and twisting from one side to another, thus keeping the spine supple and healthy. In every day life we seldom have the opportunity to move the spine all these ways. Moving the spine in all these directions helps to release tension and blocked energy, lengthen and strengthen the major muscle groups, and tone, stimulate and massage the internal organs. Forward bends stretch the entire backside of the body, including the kidneys, and contract and massage the abdominal organs. Prana flows into the back body. Backbends stretch the front of the body and help open the shoulder and pelvic girdles. The organs in the front of the body (lungs, liver, stomach and intestines) are lengthened and given room to function optimally, while the kidneys get squeezed and soaked with blood and nutrients. Prana flows into the front body.  Lateral movements stretch the sides of the body, opening the intercostal muscles of the ribs and bringing prana deeper into the lungs, tissues and organs. Twists literally wring out the body, squeezing, massaging and toning the organs and muscles.

 

Our posture affects our mood. A stooped posture bespeaks depression and fatigue while an upright posture connotes well-being and good spirits. The way we hold ourselves also affects the quality of our breath and the amount of prana that circulates effectively throughout the body. Most people sit at their desks hunched over computers or talking on the phone for most of the working day. Over time their shoulders round, their chest collapses, and the back of their neck shortens. The lungs do not have enough room to function optimally.  The result is shallow breathing, inadequate circulation of prana and removal of wastes, and chronic discomfort in the shoulders, neck, and back. The back muscles are over-stretched and the chest muscles are overly contracted. An imbalance in body posture has caused an internal imbalance of energy flow, organ function, and over time can lead to anxiety, fatigue and depression. An upright, aligned posture allows the prana to circulate evenly, breath is full and deep, balances the action of the muscles supporting the skeletal system, and encourages clarity of thought and positive emotions.

 

Yoga can be a mood elevator or tonic.  Forward bends encourage introspection and are very grounding. Backbends are exhilarating and allow emotions to surface and release. Inversions (headstand, shoulderstand, and handstand) enable us to change our perspective, after all we have turned our world upside down. Balancing poses promote inward focus and calmness. Twists help us release what we don’t need (on all levels) and get us out of habitual patterns of movement.

 

In serious illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, a gentle yogic approach focusing on breath, awareness, and movement ( in that order) can effectively reduce stress and tension. Body scans utilizing breathing techniques enable the individual to develop awareness of the breath and the body, and connect with the body in a way that is safe and non-threatening. Meditation techniques focus on being in the present moment and acceptance of life as it is now. Gentle body movement can help alleviate muscular tension, and enhance blood flow and pulmonary function to impaired body areas. Individuals can regain some sense of control over their bodies and also become more accepting of its’ limitations.

 

The health benefits of yoga extend into all aspects of life. When one’s body is in alignment, the mental chatter is reduced, mental clarity is enhanced, and emotional balance is possible. The practice of yoga creates a strong yet flexible body-mind system that works together as one unit to respond appropriately to the ever- changing conditions and challenges of life.

 

Cynthia Worby is the director of The Center for Yoga and Movement in Bedford, New York.

 

 A balanced practice of the above provides optimal physical, emotional ,mental and spiritual health.