Just a couple of weeks ago Anneke and I were in London at the Yoga in Healthcare Conference. What a fantastic feeling to be in a room full of like-minded colleagues, and learn about inspiring developments in the integration of yoga with modern medical science.
For example, the Yoga in Healthcare Alliance recently launched a 10-week yoga program in London, in collaboration with the National Health Service. Participation is free and open for all patients registered at a general practitioner (that is, everyone!). The program empowers people to use yogic tools: breathing practices, simple asanas, meditation and mindfulness, relaxation techniques.
Yoga as a Lifestyle therapy
In a world where most diseases come from poor lifestyle choices, yoga can be seen as a “lifestyle therapy” to improve health and wellbeing and prevent long-term chronic conditions.
New evidence for the significant positive effects of yoga comes out nearly every day.
A new meta-analysis of yoga trials published between 1983 and 2018 concludes that yoga significantly reduces blood pressure. Particularly in people with hypertension, yoga can bring blood pressure back into the normal range. The effect is strongest when yoga is practiced at least three times a week, and the practice should incorporate not just asanas, but breathing exercise and meditation.
As we learn more about the powerful effects of yoga as a lifestyle therapy, how can we further promote its integration in healthcare?
For me it means sharing this knowledge with doctors and healthcare experts, setting up accessible yoga classes and challenging the mainstream image of yoga that focuses on flexibility and body shape.
What other ideas do you have?
Irina
HI, I AM IRINA
I am a yoga teacher and a scientist. In this blog I write about the most recent scientific research about yoga/meditation/mindfulness. Please leave comments and share your thoughts!
Feel free to read Irina's previous blogs are here.
Hi Irina. Thankyou for your inspiration and question. I have been using ’empathy’ to interview medical staff I work with to understand their perspective of yoga as a complementary therapy and their experience of yoga and referring. Its a wonderful way to build rapport understand and gather info about the perceptions of yoga in the community. Doors have been opening for me as a yoga therapist simply by listening to those who are the ‘bridges’ into integrating yoga into our healthcare system. The problem also lies with the standard of yoga teachers and lack of registered Yoga Therapists.
I run a facebook closed group called Yoga in Healthcare Canberra. Please join to share with us your inspiring news!
Hello Kendra,
Yes, I agree, I see similar challenger here in The Netherlands!
Keep the good work up!