Yoga as Alternative Medicine?
It may seem strange to talk about yoga on a site devoted to alternative medicine and alternative health care.
Yet, when you get right down to it yoga belongs in the discussion the same as massage therapy, nutrition, reflexology and the rest of the categories listed on Alternative Medicine Now.
Why?
Because alternative therapies accept one fundamental fact of human existence that “traditional” western medicine ignored a long time ago.
Which is… that health is holistic in nature, and encompasses the idea of a sound mind and a sound body.
Yoga & Your Health
Today more than ever we understand the role of stress in our lives, especially the role of stress as it relates to our immune system. For example, this article from About.com sums it up nicely:
“Chronic, long-term stress suppresses the immune system. The longer the stress, the more the immune system shifted from they adaptive changes seen in the “fight or flight” response to more negative changes, first at the cellular level and later in broader immune function.”
The point is, reducing the harmful long-term affects of stress will improve your overall health.
And alternative health strategies like yoga focus on overall wellness, versus the traditional focus of “western” medicine on symptom reduction and treatment of disease after the fact.
Additionally, here is a quote that sums up the many benefits of yoga:
“Yoga’s many health benefits include greater flexibility, increased strength and endurance, a lessening in stress, greater coordination, greater energy, and even a relief of PMS and menstrual cramps.
Yoga is great for everyone and it is pretty possible to find a class to suit anyone’s needs.”
~Mike Bunata
So the fact remains… the benefits of yoga are too numerous to ignore.
Yoga as exercise might be “trendy.” But yoga as alternative health therapy is undeniable as well.
Find a Yoga Class Near You
Are you ready to find a yoga class or yoga instructor near you. Kindly follow the link to our directory of yoga instructors.
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And if you are a holistic health care practitioner, why not list your practice here on the site? We look forward to having you join our online community and holistic directory.
