Conditions Improved By Yoga, Self Reported – from “Yoga As Medicine” Book by Timothy McCall, M.D.

As I am getting deeper and deeper into one of the books that we are to read for the YogaFit Therapy course, I am amazed at all the benefits of a regular yoga practice can do for folks. And I’m a yoga teacher. (The more you teach yoga, it seems the more you want to know….and need to know!)

Please read on for more information about “Yoga as Medicine” by Timothy McCall, M.D. at http://www.drmccall.com/ ~Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT.

Yoga appears to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of health conditions. In Timothy McCall, M.D. Book, “Yoga As Medicine”, he goes on to say: We’ll be reviewing the scientific evidence later but, for now, let’s see what people who’ve tried therapeutic yoga have to say. In 1983 – 84, the London-based Yoga Biomedical Trust, run by Robin Monro, PhD, surveyed twenty-seven hundred (2,700) people, most between the ages of thirty-one and sixty, who used yoga therapeutically. To be included, participants had to have practiced yoga for at least two hours a week for a year or longer.

Though the number of people with some of the conditions in question was small, the results (see the table below, and in Dr. McCall’s book, Table 1.1) were impressive:

• 98 percent of back-pain sufferers found yoga helpful
• 90 percent of cancer patients
• 82 percent of people with insomnia
• and 100 percent of alcoholics

The lowest success rate in the survey was for women with “menstrual problems,” two out of three of whom found that yoga helped.

Table 1.1 Conditions Improved by Yoga, Self-Reported

Medical Condition    Number of         Percentage Helped
                  People Reporting       By Yoga

Alcoholism               24                   100%
Anxiety                 838                    94%
Arthritis &
Rheumatic Disorders     589                    90%
Asthma or Bronchitis    226                    88%
Back Disorders        1,142                    98%
Cancer                   29                    90%
Diabetes                 10                    80%
Duodenal Ulcers          40                    90%
Heart Disease            50                    94%
Hemorrhoids             391                    88%
High Blood Pressure     150                    84%
Insomnia                542                    82%
Menopausal Disorders    247                    83%
Menstrual Problems      317                    68%
Migraine                464                    80%
Neurological &
Neuromuscular Diseases  112                    96%
Obesity                 240                    74%
Premenstrual Syndrome   848                    77%
Smoking                 219                    74%

Prenatal Yoga Use of Birth Balls in Pregnancy and Labor

Prenatal Yoga use of Birth Balls in Pregnancy and during Labor.

Here are some excellent resources for you to have on hand and to practice while pregnant, and to use in easing your labor pains.

Birth Balls. Use of Physical Therapy Balls in Maternity Care by Paulina G. (Polly) Perez, R.N.

Great Expectations Pregnancy Program with FitBall by Lisa Westlake (1/2 price on VHS tapes right now), Mother of two, Physiotherapist and Australian Fitness Leader

Carolyne Anthony's Childbearing series - Using the ball during pregnancy DVD

Exercising during pregnancy with the "Gymnic-Plus" ball. (in Italian and English)

I used these resource to help supplement my prenatal yoga practice, and the prenatal yoga classes that I taught, during my fourth pregnancy in my late forties. Also used the yoga poses on the ball and otherwise during labor to help me through my induced contractions. It works!

Any Questions? Please post a comment!

What My Booth Looked Like At the Health Fair

So here is what my booth looked like at the Health Fair. I stood out in front of the booth, in the yoga mat area and talked to folks about yoga, gave out information, had people enter the yoga giveaways, get a snack (very popular), and demonstrated poses. It worked out very well.

I used some of my materials from my scrapbook days (sizzlets alphabets), and corner rounders for the photos. Had my students write up testimonials and showed a vinyasa of easing upper and lower back pain from RestoraFlow Yoga creator, Sara Varona. Passed out information from YogaFit too!

Additionally, I took my YogaFit Kids cards, and displayed a Sun Salutation, as I thought that people might ask about kids yoga that way (yeah, they did).

I did giveaways for yoga mats, private lessons, free classes and a 3 month family membership to the local YMCA (thanks Port Arthur YMCA!!).

SinuCleanse "Neti-Pot" on sale this week!

This week at Walgreen's until Saturday night March 28th, 2009. The SinuCleanse Nasal Wash Kit is $5 off. If you were thinking of acquiring a "Neti-Pot" system, go and get this. Nice, because you can put it into the dishwasher to clean, if you want. I like this specific system, well, because it was the first and only one I've purchased.

It was advertised last year or so in Yoga Journal, and other Yoga magazines.

I like it that they include the little salt to go with it!

p.s. use lukewarm water, try n0t to shock your nose with cold or super warm water!

gaileee

Round Yoga Mat Review

So I received my Lululemon 360 round yoga mat this weekend.

I reviewed and did Jennifer Wolfe's Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga Short Forms DVD, using the round yoga mat. I did the 15 minute option. I found that when we did the down dog, then bringing the thumbs together, then bring the foot to the outside of the hands, of course there is more room on the yoga mat to do this. That was nice.

Now, I'm 5 foot 10 inches, so rather long legs and torso. This mat for me is not long enough. My little tootsies are off the mat, when we go into extended childs pose, and I have a wobbly knee, so I need a bit more thickness. I typically use a towel, under the one knee, but for me, that is a bit hard to manage on the round mat. I don't know why.

So last night I took it to my Christian Yoga class. We typically set up in the "Great Room" (basketball court type of room, concrete), and I'm in the middle. Wow, now that worked out well for me to teach to the whole room. I was able to seamlessly move about on my mat, and eventually "work" the entire room in this circle format.

I took the round mat to my class today, and this is set up to where there is a raised area, where the instructor teaches from, and uses a microphone. I decided to try to get the folks to let me be in the center, which is not the typically the way that this crowd is used to. I wanted the top ends of the mat to face the circle (like petals on the flower), but one wanted to be in the same direction as, I as she has to see what I'm doing, and apparently cannot hear me, even with the microphone. So, that is something for me to absorb and use in change the manner in which I teach.

Next time I'll use the round mat, on the raised platform, and see how it works. I'd love a BIGGER round mat, and thicker, but I can't pay that high price to get to that level (unless y'all want me to review a BIGGER Thicker mat!)

Round Mat, I think is good for teachers!!

Yoga Poses to Ease Upper & Lower Back Pain

Benefits of Yoga