Is it not obvious that doctors should be aware of the benefits of yoga? With newer studies undertaken and research reports published every day, yoga is becoming more and more popular. This has led to an explosion of interest in the ancient science over the past decade or so.
As a consequence, experienced yoga teacher trainers feel gratified that their hitherto unproven claims of benefits have been and will continue to be substantiated by modern science. However, many in the medical community are still not on board, and there are quite a few things to keep in mind when discussing with doctors about yoga and its benefits.
How to engage in a discussion
Unless your doctor is a regular practitioner of yoga, chances are high that he or she will view the discipline with a suspicious eye. Hence, it is recommended to keep the discussion within the limits of the scientific realm and avoid any mention of gibberish sounding terms like asanas, chakras, pranayama and the like.
Not only will these sound unfamiliar to your physician’s ear, it will also fuel any suspicion he or she might have about the practice we love, recalling to the mind visions of witch doctors and alternative remedies that promise to work magic. Even if you are a firm believer of this stuff, most modern doctors adhere to a Westernized view of medicine and many abhor the idea of alternative medicine.
This eventually leads up another avenue of caution. While discussing with your doctor about yoga, it’d be better to stress its function as complementary medicine instead of an alternative one. Numerous studies have proven the healing effect of yoga practice alongside more traditional avenues of healing that includes modern medicine.
Quote such studies, try to positively differentiate between the healing benefits of a yogic lifestyle – either as a quality of life enhancement or as a means of physical therapy, alongside the healing properties of modern medicine. Be sure that you give your doctor no reason to feel antagonistic, threatened or suspicious about his or her own medical practice and its value in comparison with yoga.
What Doctors Should be Aware Of
Doctors should be increasingly aware of studies done about the relationship of the yogic lifestyle in relation to their own field of practice. If you enjoy a good relationship with your doctor, bring study results along with you if your doctor himself has not researched the benefits of yogic practices yet.
Yoga teacher training is designed to instil improved strength and flexibility in our physical body, and further benefits derived from meditative techniques and breathing exercises have also been proven to decrease stress and tension.
What doctors should realize with regards to Yoga is that it is especially effective as an aid to improving psychosomatic illnesses including anxiety and stress disorders. The holistic focus of the yogic philosophy emphasizes treatment of the root problem, rather than merely the symptoms.
Get your doctor to understand that yoga is not just about meditation or deep breathing. Make him aware that asana sequences can be physical therapy for people to recover from chronic pain, injuries and even persistent inflammation.
