Yoga
Yoga began as a Hindu discipline and is now practiced by people of many religions for its mental and physical health benefits. Many different types of yoga exist, with the most well known form in Western culture being hatha yoga. Yoga in general involves moving one's body to form specific poses, meditation, and breath control. The goal of hatha yoga is to increase self-understanding, balance, and to strengthen one's mind and body.
(5) & (6)
Health Benefits
Yoga may aid in the management and/or prevention of:
(7)
Additional potential benefits of yoga include:
(4)
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Studies on Yoga
To see full citation of the journals below, find the number in parentheses by each study that corresponds with the matching number at the bottom of the page
Oakley, 2014 (1)
"The role of yoga: Breathing, meditation and optimal fetal positioning"
Taspinar, 2014 (3)
"A comparison of the effects of hatha yoga and resistance exercise on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults: A pilot study"
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Wurz, 2014 (2)
"The feasibility and benefits of a 12-week yoga intervention for pediatric cancer out-patients"
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Getting Started
Mayo Clinic offers the following advice for those interested in beginning to learn yoga...
"Although you can learn yoga from books and videos, beginners usually find it helpful to learn with an instructor. Classes also offer camaraderie and friendship, which are also important to overall well-being.
When you find a class that sounds interesting, talk with the instructor so that you know what to expect. Questions to ask include:
Everyone's body is different, and yoga postures should be modified based on individual abilities. Selecting an instructor who is experienced and attentive to your needs is an important first step to a safe and effective yoga practice.
Regardless of which type of yoga you practice, you don't have to do every pose. If a pose is uncomfortable or you can't hold it as long as the instructor requests, don't do it. Good instructors will understand and encourage you to explore — but not exceed — your personal limits".
When you find a class that sounds interesting, talk with the instructor so that you know what to expect. Questions to ask include:
- What are the instructor's qualifications? Where did he or she train and how long has he or she been teaching?
- Does the instructor have experience working with students with your needs or health concerns? If you have a sore knee or an aching shoulder, can the instructor help you find poses that won't aggravate your condition?
- How demanding is the class? Is it suitable for beginners? Will it be easy enough to follow along if it's your first time?
- What can you expect from the class? Is it aimed at your needs, such as stress management or relaxation, or is it geared for people who want to reap other benefits?
Everyone's body is different, and yoga postures should be modified based on individual abilities. Selecting an instructor who is experienced and attentive to your needs is an important first step to a safe and effective yoga practice.
Regardless of which type of yoga you practice, you don't have to do every pose. If a pose is uncomfortable or you can't hold it as long as the instructor requests, don't do it. Good instructors will understand and encourage you to explore — but not exceed — your personal limits".
Curious as to what a basic yoga class is like? Check out the video below!
Sources:
(1) Oakley, S. (2014). The role of yoga: Breathing, meditation and optimal fetal positioning. The Practising Midwife, 17(5), 30 - 2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24873115
(2) Wurz, A. (2014). The feasibility and benefits of a 12-week yoga intervention for pediatric cancer out-patients. Pediatric Blood & Cancer
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezproxy.gvsu.edu/doi/10.1002/pbc.25096/abstract;jsessionid=66AD2097B833382088E3356952FD0976.f02t02
(3) Taspinar, B. (2014). A comparison of the effects of hatha yoga and resistance exercise on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults: A pilot study.Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22(3), 433 - 40.
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.gvsu.edu/science/article/pii/S0965229914000387#fig0005
(4) Norberg, U., & Lundberg, A. (2011). Hatha yoga : The body's path to balance, focus, and strength
(5) Oxford Dictionaries, "Yoga"
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/yoga
(6) Yoga Online, "Definition of Yoga"
http://yoga.org.nz/what-is-yoga/yoga_definition.htm
(7) Mayo Clinic, "Yoga: Fight stress and find serenity"
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/yoga/art-20044733?pg=2
(1) Oakley, S. (2014). The role of yoga: Breathing, meditation and optimal fetal positioning. The Practising Midwife, 17(5), 30 - 2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24873115
(2) Wurz, A. (2014). The feasibility and benefits of a 12-week yoga intervention for pediatric cancer out-patients. Pediatric Blood & Cancer
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezproxy.gvsu.edu/doi/10.1002/pbc.25096/abstract;jsessionid=66AD2097B833382088E3356952FD0976.f02t02
(3) Taspinar, B. (2014). A comparison of the effects of hatha yoga and resistance exercise on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults: A pilot study.Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22(3), 433 - 40.
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.gvsu.edu/science/article/pii/S0965229914000387#fig0005
(4) Norberg, U., & Lundberg, A. (2011). Hatha yoga : The body's path to balance, focus, and strength
(5) Oxford Dictionaries, "Yoga"
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/yoga
(6) Yoga Online, "Definition of Yoga"
http://yoga.org.nz/what-is-yoga/yoga_definition.htm
(7) Mayo Clinic, "Yoga: Fight stress and find serenity"
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/yoga/art-20044733?pg=2