Health Problems That Yoga Can't Help With

by Baxter

Roots by Melina Meza

In the last two weeks I have shared posts on common minor problems and major problems that yoga can have a positive affect on (see Common Serious Health Problems that Yoga Can Help With and Common Minor Health Problems That Yoga Can Help With). This begs the question: are there some health conditions that yoga can’t help with? I think it is first important to state that I don’t view yoga is not a definitive “cure” for anything I have listed in those two posts. Yoga certainly can bring our minds and bodies into better balance, and seems to support many of the healing systems in our own bodies in working more efficiently. And, of course, stress management, pain management, and bolstering the immune system via yoga can always help at some level with just about any conceivable health issue we may face, even if you are dying.

If you are a yoga practitioner, in all likelihood you continue to practice yoga because you experience real, tangible benefits, be they physical, mental, or emotional, or the yoga may feed some spiritual aspirations you may have. Along the way, many of us (me, included) have noted that a particular health issue in any of those realms has improved or resolved, and we may feel strongly that our yoga practices aided this process in some way. Certainly, as we continue to report on here, there are researchers looking into the many ways that yoga can be used as a healing tool for body and mind. And beyond identifying which conditions seem to benefit most from adding a yoga practice into other healing modalities, some of these scientists are also trying to unravel the how and why yoga works. It’s a work in progress.

And because yoga’s full spectrum of tools (which includes gross physical actions via asana, subtler breath techniques via asana, sound practices, hand gestures, and mentally focused practices like meditation techniques), anyone with any health condition can actually learn some form of yoga and apply it to their problems, as long as their mental capacities are intact. And those with memory problems or dementia who can't learn yoga on their own will certainly benefit by being guided by a yoga teacher or a loved one. So, short of unconsciousness, I feel that there is no condition that yoga could not potentially help with!

If you are under good guidance, I don’t feel there is anything to lose and much to gain by attempting to apply yoga practices to health conditions in your life. Keep in mind that most yoga teachers are not “health care providers,” although some are getting additional training as yoga therapists, and a yoga therapist might be your best bet to talk to if you want more expert guidance. It is also probably worth reiterating that the original intent of yoga was a psycho-spiritual practice most interested in your mastering the vagaries of your mind and achieving spiritual awakening, with the asana practice designed to support those goals. Its sister system, Ayurveda, was traditionally focused more directly on the health and wellbeing of your entire body, as well as everyday mental and emotional wellbeing. In modern times we are seeing some blending of these two systems, and this promises to be an interesting process to keep an eye on.

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