Yoga is a mind-body practice in complementary and alternative medicine with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles of yoga that people use for health purposes typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. This Backgrounder provides a general overview of yoga and suggests sources for more information.People use yoga for a variety of health conditions and to achieve fitness and relaxation. It is not fully known what changes occur in the body during yoga; whether they influence health; and if so, how. There is,however, growing evidence to suggest that yoga works to enhance stress-coping mechanisms and mind-body awareness.Research is under way to find out more about yoga’s effects, and the diseases and conditions for which it may be most helpful.
Yoga in its full form combines physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and a distinct philosophy. Yoga is intended to increase relaxation and balance the mind, body, and the spirit.Early written descriptions of yoga are in Sanskrit, the classical language of India. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means “yoke or union.” It is believed that this describes the union between the mind and the body. The first known text, The Yoga Sutras, was written more than 2,000 years ago, although yoga may have been practiced as early as 5,000 years ago. Yoga was originally developed as a method of discipline and attitudes to help people reach spiritual enlightenment. The Sutras outline eight limbs or foundations of yoga practice that serve as spiritual guidelines:Research suggests that yoga might improve mood and sense of well-being,counteract stress,reduce heart rate and blood pressure increase lung capacity,improve muscle relaxation and body composition,help with conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, improve overall physical fitness, strength, and flexibility, positively affect levels of certain brain or blood chemicals. More well-designed studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn about yoga’s use for specific health conditions.
People with certain medical conditions should not use some yoga practices. For example,people with disc disease of the spine, extremely high or low blood pressure, glaucoma,retinal detachment, fragile or atherosclerotic arteries, a risk of blood clots, ear problems, severe osteoporosis, or cervical spondylitis should avoid some inverted poses.Although yoga during pregnancy is safe if practiced under expert guidance, pregnant women should avoid certain poses that may be problematic.
There are many training programs for yoga teachers throughout the country. These programs range from a few days to more than 2 years. Standards for teacher training and certification differ depending on the style of yoga.There are organizations that register yoga teachers and training programs that have complied
with minimum educational standards. For example, one nonprofit group requires at least 200 hours of training, with a specified number of hours in areas including techniques, teaching methodology, anatomy, physiology, and philosophy.
