Yoga

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Yoga

What is yoga and how is it helpful to the average person? Many people hear the word "yoga" and think of some sort of stretching and breathing, but yoga is much more complex than this. Yoga is actually "characterized by body alignment." In other words it consists of many different "poses" that stretch and relax the entire body. Yoga is not just about someone sitting on the floor twisting their body. Blocks, straps, blankets, mats, and chairs are all used to enhance positions and to make sure each position is executed properly. Does yoga really benefit one's health, or is it just a waste of time? We have some answers to these questions.

CLAIMS

There are many confusing and conflicting claims made about all alternative medicines. Yoga is included in this, but hopefully we can figure some of them out.

People have claimed that yoga has had positive effects on them. Some believe that it helps them psychologically, some mentally, some, a combination of the two. Most people relate yoga to the relief of stress, or minor pains. Does it really work, though?

STUDIES THAT SHOW POSITIVE RESULTS

RELIEF OF STRESS

Many studies were done to observe the effect yoga had on the relief of stress. One of these studies, done in 1994, was conducted on two groups of young women. One group was a control group and the other practiced yoga. All the volunteers read in a comfortable position for an extended period of time. Then, heart rate, blood pressure, certain hormones and psychological factors were measured and compared. The results seemed to be favor the women who had practiced yoga. First, there was a huge difference in heart rate. The group that practiced yoga had a large decrease of heart rate during yoga. The most signifi...

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...in psychiatry. International Journal of Psvchosomatics, 40(1-4):105-7.

Schell, F.,j. , Allolin, B. , Schonecke, O.W., (1 994) . Psysiological and psychological effects of Hatha-Yoga excercise in healthy women. International Journal of Psychosomatics, 41(1-4):46-52,

Harte, J.L., Eifert, G.H., Smith, R., (1995) . The effects of running and meditation on beta-endorphin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and cortisol in plasma, and on mood. Biological Psvcholoqv, 40(3):251-265.

Garfinkel, M.S., Schumacher, H.R. Tr., Husain, A., Levy, M., Reshetar, R.A. , (1994) . Evaluation of a Yoga based regimen for treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands. Journrnal of Rheumatology, 21(12):2341-3.

Telles, S., Desiraju, T., (1993). Autonomic changes in Brahmakumaris Raja Yoga meditation. International Journal of Psvchophysiology, 15(2):147-52.

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