The Mind and Body Medicine of Yoga

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The Mind and Body Medicine of Yoga Theoretical Perspectives in Nursing Transition V. Teal, DHSc, RN 10-15-2012 Origins of Yoga Yoga originated in ancient Indian philosophy. Yoga is thought to unify and align the body, mind and spirit. Yoga is considered a science to be practiced, as opposed to an exercise by die hard followers. The original spiritual goal of yoga is based on Hinduism. To many the spiritual goal is to obtain an awareness of oneself and find spirituality from within. This spiritual aspect of yoga that is based on the religion of Hinduism makes some people uncomfortable. Some Christian groups practice the mind and body aspects of yoga, but incorporate their own version of the spiritual aspect by reciting and meditating on scripture instead of chanting mantra. For those who are uncomfortable with the connections to Hinduism, the spiritual aspects of yoga can be modified and individualized to meet the person's own individual spiritual needs. The spiritual alteration allows yoga to be utilized as a great form of exercise that is based on the principles of proper body positioning combined with relaxation, proper breathing techniques and mental focus. This permits everyone to join in the practice of yoga and have the benefits of this very ancient, but effective exercise. Yoga's Uses Yoga is used for general health and physical fitness. It is also used as a treatment modality for various health conditions. Yoga is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) published an article entitled "What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?". This article reports that according to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), approximately 38 percent of adults use CAM. The 2007 NHIS included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans (NCCAM,

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