The Benefits of Yoga Therapy
The National Institutes of Health report that Yoga is one of the top ten complementary health approaches. Modern researchers are now using genomic expression and brain imaging to understand how yoga affects practitioners on a cellular and molecular level. As the number of studies on Yoga continues to increase so too has its adoption by Western medicine. The partial list below is from Yoga as Medicine (Timothy McCall, MD) and reflects those conditions benefitted by Yoga Therapy as demonstrated in scientific studies. There are more than 100 conditions as of 2019. Yoga Therapy.Health is another resource for those seeking practical information.
Yoga Therapy uses the techniques and practices of yoga, including physical postures, breathing, visualization, meditation, sound, and self-study to help those facing health challenges manage their condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality, and improve attitude.*
- anxiety
- back pain
- cancer
- chronic pain
- depression
- fibromyalgia
- heart disease
- insomnia
- irritable bowel syndrome
- migraine and tension headaches
- obesity/weight control**
- osteoarthritis
- osteoporosis
- post-joint replacement
- post-operative recovery
- Complete list of conditions, includes references
*Yoga Therapy as defined by Gary Kraftsow, MA, E-RYT-500 and Founder of American Viniyoga Institute ™
**Harvard Medical School reports Yoga can result in a better body image, more mindful eating, a boost to weight loss and enhanced fitness
