Is Yoga Preventative Medicine?
Yoga has been around for thousands of years, first practiced by ancient mystics and philosophers and now by new-age hippies, fashion models and soccer moms.
Most people assume Yoga is simply a way to increase flexibility, but Yoga's health benefits extend WELL BEYOND the ability to put your foot behind your head.
"As far as preventive medicine, it's as close to one-stop shopping as you can find," says Dr. Timothy McCall, author of Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing, told Forbes.
In fact, Forbes offers up an entire list of The Medicinal Powers of Yoga:
- Improves balance
- Relieves back pain
- Improves bowel function
- Better lung capacity
- Promotes weight loss
- Improves psychological health
- Helps cholesterol levels
- Improves cancer patients' quality of life
- Strengthens bones
- Lowers need for medication
- Improves menopausal symptoms
Now, as a Yogi--that's someone who does Yoga, not the bear--I'd like to add to that list: reduced joint pain, increased stamina and greater overall strength. Holding certain positions causes you to use muscles you NEVER thought you had!
Also, previous reports have associated yoga with improved sleep, staving off metabolic syndrome and even, helping victims of natural disasters.
Perhaps BEST of all. Yoga is very no-frills. All you need is a rubber mat and maybe some blocks. Very convenient for apartment-dwellers and the cash strapped--I'm both!
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I love yoga. I have a twenty minute yoga workout that I got as a gift and I do it more often than the more expensive and length DVD workouts I own. I don't know if all the medical claims are true but I do know that I feel better afterward.
ReplyMarilyn , i totally agree with you. i love yoga,it is not only help on our external shape and also the internal health , even the soul are more calm after yoga.
Regards
ReplyMs Diet Pill
Best Weight Loss pill review.
>> Promotes weight loss
I have been hearing this a lot, what I haven't heard is how. Are there any studies that can back this up ? Or does anyone say how does yoga helps or promotes weight loss ?
ReplyWeight loss and control, as well as a multitude of other benefits, are achieved through the healing and strengthening of the various body systems with movements that won't cause body strain. Also, people who do yoga require less calorie intake than those who do other forms of exercise. The therapeutic benefits of yoga are quite extensive.
ReplyThat's total B.S. I'd *love* to see you cite a peer reviewed study to support the absurd assertion that people who do yoga have a lower total daily energy expenditure.
ReplyHey nodietneeded-
For me, the answer is pretty simple. Its exercise! LOL.
Peace.
Reply-Gerry
>> healing and strengthening of the various body systems with movements...
What body systems and again HOW? I am as curious as Barry is to see a cited review.
>>people who do yoga require less calorie intake than those who do other forms of exercise
Of course, because calorie burn rate is lower. I suppose people who sleep all day will require less calorie intake than those who'd do yoga all day.
>>the answer is pretty simple. Its exercise
I guess you are right when you compare it with sitting in front of TV, I'll give you that :)
I think Yoga is great for meditational purposes and keeping flexibility both of which are very important health but I think its weight management capabilities are a little bit overrated.
For 150 lbs. body weight for 60 mins, calorie burn rates
Hatha Yoga 170.4
Cooking / Food Preparation 136.3
Food Shopping: with or without cart 156.8
Billiards 170.4
http://primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/jumpsite/calculat.htm
cheers
ReplyThe only way anthing can "promote weight loss" is if it reduces calories eaten or increases calories burned, or both! I seriously doubt that yoga reduces appetite, but it does burn more calories that sitting on the sofa, so in that respect it will increase daily energy expenditure...
Replyit doesnt matter how; it just does. i've been doing yoga for 4 months and my insomnia is cured, my skin glows, it relieves depression, my middle is slimmer, and i'm becoming very strong, and it toned my arms back up. :)
ReplyIn my opinion and from most of the people I've spoken to who undertake some form of yoga it does have more benefits than purely fitness and flexibility.
I prefer Bikram (Hot) Yoga as it facilitates calorie burning and weight loss faster and gives my core muscles more of a workout. It is also a great stress reliever for me and at night I sleep like a baby after completing a session.
Reply>> healing and strengthening of the various body systems with movements...
What body systems and again HOW? I am as curious as Barry is to see a cited review.
>>people who do yoga require less calorie intake than those who do other forms of exercise
Of course, because calorie burn rate is lower. I suppose people who sleep all day will require less calorie intake than those who'd do yoga all day.
>>the answer is pretty simple. Its exercise
I guess you are right when you compare it with sitting in front of TV, I'll give you that :)
I think Yoga is great for meditational purposes and keeping flexibility both of which are very important health but I think its weight management capabilities are a little bit overrated.
For 150 lbs. body weight for 60 mins, calorie burn rates
Hatha Yoga 170.4
Cooking / Food Preparation 136.3
Food Shopping: with or without cart 156.8
Billiards 170.4
www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/jumpsite/calculat.htm
cheers
ReplyJust curious...
Replyhave you taken any power or vinyasa flow yoga classes?
:)
I practice Aikido which I was told that has similar elements to yoga. But again, do I really have to do it to ask for referrences for its weight loss capabilities?
ReplyPerhaps if you tried it your questions would be answered...for me it satisfies my inner needs by providing relaxation plus a killer workout( seriously I am not kidding :) As a great stress relief -doing a class prevents me from snacking on junk- I guess it gets my endorphins flowing naturally..that way on top of burning calories in class..I don't take in extra during the day..thus loosing weight. I must say I have also increased my muscle mass...increasing the calorie burn further...I have lost a few inches since starting yoga about a year ago.
ReplyBikram (Hot) Yoga i have not heard of that form of yoga, I have done yoga in the past and it has helped me lose weight but I found the exercise to be a little to slow so I might see if I can get involved in this one.
ReplyYoga is one of those "leap of faith" activities. Do it and you will find out what it can, if anything, do for you. If you just want to be on the sidelines and just criticize, won't learn much.
ReplyDr. J,
Thank you for being the voice of reason.
ReplyI understand what you mean and these comments definetely raised my curiosity, I will try it but I don't think the mechanics of weight management is so 'spiritual'. Calorie out minus calorie in equals to weight loss. What does yoga has to offer in this equation and how?
Sorry guys, as an enigeer by heart, I can't help questioning things and ask for referrences. Please, do not take my comments as affront. I am here to learn and share. :)
cheers
ReplySometimes the answers can only be found in the process of making things happen!
ReplyI totally agree with this. Yoga is amazing! And yet on the surface -- until you try it, it doesn't look like more than getting into weird positions.
I'm not talking about a wednesday night class at the local women's group, I'm talking about living it.
BUT time is a problem for a lot of people so what will give? The cardio, the weights? I choose to do "stretches" in-between sets of weights and separate meditation, which to me is the real core of Yoga.
The sun salutations would make a superb warm up -- just don't do it down the gym unless you want some very strange looks! :-)
~Mike
Replyi think you just need to sweat once or twice in a power yoga class...lol It is verrry intense. yes you could stick to gentler classes but if you look for an intense work out yoga can offer that as well..We don't just sit and stretch in class...and I can assure you I certainly burn more in my class then while doing dishes..:)
ReplyYoga is something that I keep hearing about, but have never gotten into. I think it is something I should try in the near future. Help me reduce stress! :)
ReplyI have recently considered yoga. I have heard that it greatly improves asthma.And I am desperate to get some breathing relief. Not to mention a whole list of other benefits also.
ReplyI have to preface by saying that I'm highly in favour of anything that gets people active, keeps them relaxed, etc. That said, where I live, yoga is religion. There is a tendency for every type of exercise to exaggerate their benefits and yoga is no exception. I once had a student argue with me about yoga being able to fix bowed legs! I think it can be a fantastic complementary form of exercise but should not every REPLACE strength training, cardio and specific mobility exercises.
One of the potential pitfalls of yoga are some of the extreme poses that are actually worse for your back. Indiscriminate flexibility is not always a good thing.
Again, yoga can be a great form of exercise and I am on board with anything that keeps you moving. I've heard of many people who have enjoyed very positive benefits of yoga.
ReplyI absolutely believe that Yoga can prevent a number of ailments--not only is it good exercise but the stretching and strengthening aspect of it can help to prevent numerous joint and muscle injuries, especially back injuries. I personally tried Vinyasa yoga a little over a year ago and loved it, I need to start doing that again, it's great first thing in the morning (you won't need that coffee if you do yoga right after you wake up instead, I swear!).
Cheers,
ReplyJanet
I recommend Bikram Yoga, yoga in 40 degrees celcius heated room. Not only have i lost most of my body fat but it tones my body and you can see drastic improvement in less than 1 month. If those of you like a challenge, this is totally it. You're basically sweating like a wet towel for 90min right from the start! and you are always pulled back to the class because it takes a while to master a pose and you feel so proud when your certain part of the body is able to master little by little the poses. Gets you motivated each time!
ReplyYoga is good exercise for healthe
ReplyGoing on the cheap and cheerfulness of Yoga I thought I'd recommend this site: http://www.yogatoday.com/
Now you don't even have to buy a DVD!
I've never done one of these classes, as I've been doing yoga for many years and like to work away on my own. However I'd suggest doing a class before doing something like this, so your teacher can correct any errors in your postures, and advise you if something hurts. Especially your back.
I don't know who said that the extreme postures can be dangerous but I have to disagree. I've always been told, if it hurts, DON'T DO IT. Maybe a beginner trying an extreme posture will get injured, but if you are doing the extreme things generally you should know what you're at, and not cripple yourself. A beginner trying an extreme posture would be akin to a body-boarder trying to surf a 10 foot wave; common sense should prevail.
ReplyI used to practice yoga (once a week for 2 hours, and the odd sun salutation in between). I am on the fence but leaning toward "good." :)
ReplyI think Lea (way up above) was probably referring to the endorphin effect of lowering appetite, because saying that you require fewer calories because of yoga would lead to weight gain rather than loss, if you continued to consume the same. I think by "require" she meant "require to stave off hunger", rather than resting burn rate, which is what most people mean by calories required.
I would say this about yoga: you get out what you put in. If you can practice often and regularly, it will help a lot. If, like me a few years ago, you only have time for one class a week, it will only help a little, and if you are not making other healthy changes too, you would hardly notice. Still, better than nothing. I now practice Pilates, which is similar, but different. I probably would have found Pilates way too difficult to start in my 50s if I hadn't done yoga most of my adult life, just enough to keep the stiffness at bay.
Wow, I've been wanting to start doing yoga for a long time now - this is a very inspiring post and this will probably make me finally start it!
Reply