Using therapeutic value of yoga for integrated health management: Special on World Day of Yoga

In 2022, the International Day of Yoga, 21 June, is being observed with the theme "Yoga for humanity" decided by the United Nation (UN). According to the UN, "The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented human tragedy. Beyond its immediate impact on physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated psychological suffering and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, as pandemic-related restrictions were introducedin various forms in many countries. This has highlighted the urgent need to address the mental health dimension of the pandemic, in addition to the physical health aspects. "

"The essence of yoga is balance - not just balance within the body or that between the mind and the body, but also balance in the human relationship with the world. Yoga emphasizes the values of mindfulness, moderation, discipline and perseverance. When applied to communities and societies, Yoga offers a path for sustainable living," adds the UN on its website.

Most yogasanas - when regulated with breathing- cause slow and gentle muscular stretch leading to an enhanced blood supply to the muscles and invigorating them.

Medical yoga, when undertaken under the tutelage of a certified yoga therapist as an individualized intervention after diagnosis can work as conscious process of mind-over-matter for improving health condition of the client as as an integrated approach to cure and preventive health.

Along with prescribed medicines, gentle and relevant yoga exercises as therapeutic intervention can be undertaken as part of integrated approach to health that involves restoration of physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Here are some tried out yogasanas for certain common health conditions to be done with suggested protocol.

Diabetes:

• Prasarita Padottanasan

• Supta Badhakonasan

• Vipreet Dandasan

Thyroid problem:

• Halasana

• Sarvaangasana

Over-weight problem:

• Audhomukh Svanasana

• Supta Vajrasana

• Uttanasana

Menstruation problem:

• Badhakonasana

• Ustrasana

• Upvistakonasana

Sciatica problem:

• Ardha Chandrasan

• Dandaasan

Some gentle, slow and smooth stretches for general wellbeing

• Holding a window bar or a pillar with hands outstretched behind to give a slow soothing pull to the shoulder blades

• Lying on back flatten your abdomen

• lying on the back stretch your toes until you feel the bones

• Lying on the back, folding knees, and stretching the navel up

• Lying on the stomach and stretching the upper body off the floor with the help of the arms

• Performing clockwise movement of head, anticlockwise movement of head, and side pulsing of neck.

• Standing upright with one foot over the other and bending from the hips stretch along with repeat with the opposite foot

• Throwing the head back and opening and closing the jaw