Yoga as therapy

Yoga as therapy is the use of yoga as exercise, consisting mainly of postures called asanas, as a gentle form of exercise and relaxation applied specifically with the intention of improving health. This form of yoga is widely practised in classes, and may involve meditation, imagery, breath work (pranayama) and calming music as well as postural yoga.^[1]

At least three types of health claims have been made for yoga: magical claims for medieval haṭha yoga, including the power of healing; unsupported claims of benefits to organ systems from the practice of asanas; and more or less well supported claims of specific medical and psychological benefits from studies of differing sizes using a wide variety of methodologies.

Systematic reviews have found beneficial effects of yoga on low back pain^[2] and depression,^[3] but despite much investigation, little or no evidence of benefit for specific medical conditions.^[3]^[4] The study of trauma-sensitive yoga has been hampered by weak methodology.^[5]

^ Feuerstein, Georg (2006). "Yogic Meditation". In Jonathan Shear (ed.). The Experience of Meditation. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House. p. 90. While not every branch or school of yoga includes meditation in its technical repertoire, most do.
^ Cite error: The named reference CramerLaucheHaller2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Pascoe2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Uebelacker 2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Nguyen-Feng, Viann N.; Clark, Cari J.; Butler, Mary E. (August 2019). "Yoga as an intervention for psychological symptoms following trauma: A systematic review and quantitative synthesis". Psychological Services. 16 (3): 513–523. doi:10.1037/ser0000191. PMID 29620390. S2CID 4607801.

[1] Feuerstein, Georg (2006). "Yogic Meditation". In Jonathan Shear (ed.). The Experience of Meditation. St. Paul, Minnesota: Paragon House. p. 90. While not every branch or school of yoga includes meditation in its technical repertoire, most do.

[CramerLaucheHaller2013-2] Cite error: The named reference CramerLaucheHaller2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Pascoe2015-3] Cite error: The named reference Pascoe2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Uebelacker_2010-4] Cite error: The named reference Uebelacker 2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Nguyen-FengClark2018-5] Nguyen-Feng, Viann N.; Clark, Cari J.; Butler, Mary E. (August 2019). "Yoga as an intervention for psychological symptoms following trauma: A systematic review and quantitative synthesis". Psychological Services. 16 (3): 513–523. doi:10.1037/ser0000191. PMID 29620390. S2CID 4607801.

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