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Experience-based and evidence-based research studies have shown Yoga can help in non-communicable diseases like asthma, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, digestion issues, spinal issues, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and cancer, to name a few
Across ailments, even in difficult stages, Yoga therapy can provide relief in pain and other symptoms. (Getty)
Faced with a difficult diagnosis? Don’t worry; Yoga is here to help. Yoga as an exercise system enables healthy living but Yoga as therapy can provide relief in all diseases and body and mind dysfunctions.
Experience-based and evidence-based research studies have shown Yoga can treat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like asthma, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, digestion issues, spinal issues, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and cancer, to name a few. Similarly, Yoga has been found helpful in mental health issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD and schizophrenia. Yoga’s main role — to quieten the mind — comes into play in all psychosomatic diseases.
Across ailments, even in difficult stages, Yoga therapy can provide relief in pain and other symptoms. Its regular practice along with a supporting lifestyle comes handy in long-term rehabilitation, and can even prolong life. People taking to Yoga, as well as their doctors, are often surprised at the lives they are able to live after the adoption.
YOGA NO PLACEBO, IT WORKS SCIENTIFICALLY
At the physical level, body parts, muscles and joints gain strength, lose stiffness, energy blocks are cleared, and blood circulation and oxygenation increase. Structural imbalances like bone and joint problems, and organic dysfunction, including hormonal and immune system disorders, are addressed. At the level of the mind, Yoga enables release of tension, awareness, and a deeper connection within oneself. As the blockages and tension are released, calmness, peace, and a greater understanding descend. Meditation techniques can treat nervous system disorders, emotional stress and even serious psychological disturbances.
Yoga works scientifically, yet it is not a magic wand. Using Yoga as medicine entails taking to it intelligently, with full enthusiasm, faith, and discipline.
USING YOGA INTELLIGENTLY
Here are some things to keep in mind, in order to get the most out of Yoga as medicine.
Don’t Give up Conventional Treatment. Let Yoga be an add-on therapy. Take the conventional drug treatment as per the doctor’s orders. Yoga needs time to get the system up and running. Allow modern medicine to keep you afloat.
Once Yoga begins working, you may reach a stage where some medicines become redundant in the natural course, especially in mental health issues, digestive issues, mild respiratory and cardiac issues.
Yoga Can’t be Used as a Standalone Therapy. Yoga is benefitted immensely by the support of other healing systems. In the ‘Integrative Medicine’ approach that’s gaining rapid popularity for its effectiveness as a healing method, Yoga practices are combined with Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Yogic Counselling, etc. These together give ‘adjunct therapy’ to the conventional drugs treatment.
Dr HR Nagendra and Dr R Nagarathna of SVYASA, pioneers in combining modern medicine with Yoga therapy, say this about diseases and their cure: “When the mind is agitated during our interactions with the world…these agitations cause violent fluctuations in the flow of Prana in the Nadis (energy channels)…the Nadis can no longer maintain stability, but quiver. This disturbance in the Prana and unsteadiness in Nadis gives rise to wrong digestion (kujirnatvam), non-digestion (atijirnatvam) and over-digestion (ajirnatvam). The settling of this improperly digested food in the body amid such commotion results in ailments of the psychosomatic type. Since the disturbances in the mind have led to disturbances in the physical system via the energies, working on all these levels becomes mandatory”.
There Isn’t a One-to-One Match Between Diseases and Asanas. Yoga poses don’t work like pills to be popped for a disease. Even though certain poses can help a specific organ or part, they cannot be practised in isolation. You will need to follow a protocol, a combination of practices, which are done in a particular sequence, ending with Savasana, the Corpse pose. What’s more, the protocol of practices is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but has to be tailored to individual needs.
Don’t Go to Just Any Yoga Teacher for Your Therapy Requirement. A non-medical Yoga place or therapist is fine, but make sure they have experience in dealing with diseases. Ideally, therapists should have applied and studied the effects of practices on themselves. Another mark of a good therapist is their ability to understand the person by listening to them describe their issues. A good Yoga Therapy place has support of medical doctors as well as specialists in alternative-healing techniques.
Once Already Suffering from Illness, Be Very Careful in Choosing Yoga Poses. In the midst of infections or aggravation in chronic illness, avoid practising Asanas. The same pose suggested as remedy may aggravate your condition if your timing is bad.
The body needs to recuperate, don’t dissipate the energy or let the Asana help you spread infection through the body. At such times, diaphragmatic breathing and Anulom-Viloma Pranayama go a long way in helping relax and reinvigorate.
Diet is a Necessary Concomitant Factor in Yoga Therapy. Bhujangasana and Paschimottanasana may be great poses for constipation, but these would be ineffective for someone whose diet is mostly rich food that’s low on fibre, vegetables, and fluid intake. The wrong diet can create imbalances in the system and energy distribution can go for a complete toss. Diet has to be not just easily-digestible, but also specific to the condition of the body. However, there can still be ‘cheat days’ for satisfying that special craving.
Different Asanas for Different Personality Types. This is the next level of using Yoga therapy. Yoga scholar-teachers David Frawley and Sandra Summerfield Kozak, in their book ‘Yoga for Your Type’, say just as we are told how to eat or how to live right depending on our body type, so we must exercise right. Asanas must be prescribed with regard to Ayurveda mind-body types of Vata, Pitta and Kapha and the gunas (qualities) of Rajas, Tamas and Sattva — according to the energies and elements that predominate within us.
Empower yourself with these principles of Yoga therapy and become an active participant in your own healing.
The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@gmail.com.
