Therapies... - Yoga - Ailments / Situations Where Used

Yoga is used to promote general health, vitality, and well-being of the mind and body. And it is generally accepted that yoga can be used to treat mental and physical illness thought to be beyond the ability of the mind to control. In turn, the practice is used to help treat a wide variety of ailments and conditions and empower people to control, or influence, a range of bodily functions.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that yoga is generally not used to treat a specific condition. Rather, the act of engaging and committing to various yoga practices can induce a healing state that can be complemented by additional forms of healing. By unblocking prana in various chakras and promoting energy flow, various situations of ill-health can be improved.

Yoga can help people control blood pressure, body temperature, brain waves (confirmed through EEG), heart rate, metabolic rate, respiratory function, and skin resistance.

As yoga can invoke a meditative, peaceful state, the practice is suitable for people dealing with anxiety, nervousness, or stress. Cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and respiratory problems can also benefit from the relaxed state induced by yoga practices. Yoga may also prove useful for people dealing with alcoholism, asthma, drug addiction, heart disease, injury rehabilitation, lack of concentration, migraines, smoking cessation, and general substance abuse. Through its influence on the brain's pain centre and secretion of natural painkillers, yoga often proves beneficial when dealing with issues of pain management. Physical fitness and flexibility also improve with yoga sessions.

Yoga promotes a positive frame of mind and boosts mood, providing a positive balance for emotional and spiritually draining situations such as AIDS, cancer, personal loss, and non-physical trauma.

The various yoga postures promote spinal alignment and blood flow, improving circulation.