Yoga may have been around for thousands of years, but now doctors are recommending it to treat a host of diseases and even mental health as it is known to relax the mind and body and also help fight diabetes and parkinsons. DC reports on this ancient exercise routine and its growing popularity on World Yoga Day
With increasing awareness of lifestyle diseases, the need for fitness has spiked today. And as people look for ways to improve their quality of life , yoga has been a constant favourite. Although it has been around for over 5,000 years since the Indus-Saraswathi civilization, people, both young and old, are now taking to it like never before.
A low-cost, easy, and enjoyable way to boost the brain and other body parts against stress and attain good health, its world-wide popularity was duly recognised in 2015 when the UN General Assembly declared June 21 the World Yoga Day. A lot of research that has gone into it has spoken of the health benefits of yoga , which are corroborated by Ms. Nishriin Parikh, an expert with General Nutrition Centres (GNC India) , who says yoga is a natural solution to several problems such as stress and anxiety. “This is why more and more people are turning to it rather than downing medication prescribed by doctors,” she notes.
Yoga’s growing popularity also stems from the fact that it can be adapted to one’s needs with asanas that are slow and gentle, vigorous, or introspective. For instance, a pregnant woman can do gentle yoga and an individual looking to challenge his or her stamina can opt for power yoga. What this means is it has something to meet everyone’s needs and interests.
The practice of yoga includes asanas, pranayama and meditation and its health benefits are physical as well as mental. “Yoga helps in reducing stress, coping with anxiety, fighting depression, reducing inflammation in the body and relieving migraine. It also helps in reducing chronic back pain and knee pain,” says Ishwari Patil, a GNC expert.
Adds Dr Suryanarayana Sharma, consultant neuro physician and head of the Department of Neurosciences at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals, “Yoga and meditation have a strong positive impact on stress management and mental health. Various scientific studies have shown increase in the blood flow to the brain during yoga and meditation. Brain chemicals such as GABA and serotonin are increased and norepinephrine levels are decreased in people practicing yoga and meditation and in addition. In addition to improving brain function, it improves behaviour in patients with depression, anxiety and mania.”
Dr NK Venkataramana, founder and chief neurosurgeon, Brains Neuro Spine Centre explains that yoga also helps the endocrine glands function appropriately. “It balances the autonomic nervous system , benefiting not only the heart rate but also the blood sugar level, blood pressure, respiration, digestion and many psychological conditions such as depression, diabetes, parkinson’s disease, hypertension, and stress,” he adds, listing the physical health benefits of this now highly popular exercise routine that has captured the imagination of both the layman and celebrity the world over.
Wrong postures can invite trouble
While yoga has successfully established itself as a way to keep one’s body, mind and soul in good health, allowing thousands to lead a better life, experts emphasise that it is important to get the postures right as doing them wrong or in excess can lead to injury or worse.
Dr Deepak Hadagali, a yoga therapist with the Brains Neuro Spine Centre, says it must always be done under the supervision of a proper yoga guru. “For instance, sirsasana or head stand can be dangerous for someone suffering from high blood pressure if he or she does it a few times. Another widely known asana, kapalabhati pranayama, can prove dangerous for those suffering from lumbar spondylitis or hernia. Instead of helping the patients recover it can have a serious negative impact,” he warns.
Dr. Shashikanth, an expert in integrated medicine with the Vikram Hospital in the city , too notes that yoga can have many harmful consequences if practiced the wrong way. “A study says that 62 per cent of musculoskeletal injuries are caused by wrong yoga practice. Forceful breathing or kapalabhati, if done excessively can increase hypertension and epilepsy episodes. Research also shows that wrong yoga practices are responsible for 35.5 per cent of musculoskeletal injury, 14 per cent of nervous system injury , 9 per cent eye injuries and for aggravating glaucoma,” he says .
While several videos are available today along with an overload of information on yoga, experts believe it is important to filter it all for safe practice.
Says Ishwari Patil, an expert with General Nutrition Centres (GNC), India, “Too much of anything is not good. Yoga should be practiced four or five times a week. Your body needs time to recover and at some point if you feel pain in your joints or bones it’s time to take a rest day. If you experience pain while practicing, it is best to pause and give your body time to recover. Pushing through the pain might result in an injury.”
