What is yoga?

I decided to look into the therapeutic value of yoga, as I know that it provides multiple health benefits, and it is an intervention which is not currently utilised much within CVA rehabilitation programmes. 

I am interested in finding out how yoga may influence an individual’s ability to engage in everyday occupations post CVA.


Image retrieved from: http://www.momentumbodyworkandmassage.com/yoga-class-descriptions 

Yoga began approximately 5,000 years ago in India, as part of the Ayurvedic healing science. 

Yoga is a spiritual practice which utilises the mind through meditation, and the body through exercises to balance our systems (Mishra, Singh, Bunch & Zhang, 2012). 

Yoga practices promote discipline, willpower and self-control, supporting the mind and body to work in perfect synergy (Lazaridou, Philbrook & Tzika, 2012). 

Yoga is a holistic non-invasive treatment, which has various health promoting and disease preventing effects, and helps improve overall quality of life (Lazaridou, Philbrook & Tzika, 2012). 

Therefore, yoga may have beneficial effects in managing long-term physical disability, and mental health and well-being in individuals post CVA. 

See https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/what-is-yoga/ for more details about what defines yoga.

Check out this blog for a detailed explanation of yoga for stroke prevention and recovery http://yogiwellnessjourney.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/yoga-for-stroke-recovery-and-prevention.html 


References:

Lazaridou, A., Philbrook, P., & Tzika, A. A. (2013). Yoga and mindfulness as therapeutic interventions for stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ECAM), 2013, 1-9. Doi: 2013/357108

Mishra, S. K., Singh, P., Bunch, S. J., & Zhang, R. (2012). The therapeutic values of yoga in neurological disorders. Annals Of Indian Academy Of Neurology, 15(4), 247-254. Doi: 10,4103/0972-2327.104328


Comments

  1. Interesting to see the background of yoga as well as how it can be used as an OT! So fascinating to see where this came from!

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    Replies
    1. I was amazed to find out it that it began 5,000 years ago! It will be interesting to see how many more people utilise yoga over the years to come.

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