adopting a healthy active lifestyle in sedentary children who are intimidated by more vigorous forms of exercise. A detailed review5 showed that yoga may benefit children with mental challenges by improving their mental ability, along with motor coordination and social skills, and that restoration of some degree of functional ability is possible in those with physical disabilities. A notable point mentioned by researchers was that, “Regardless of the goal, Yoga appears to be a multitasking modality that simultaneously treats both physical impairments as well as more global issues such as stress, anxiety, or hyperactivity.”6
To achieve this yogic integration at all levels of our being, it is essential that we take into consideration the all-encompassing multidimensional aspects of human existence that include the following: diet, natural environment, holistic lifestyle, internal attitudes and thought processes, recurring negative emotions, adequate bodywork through conscious and steady postures (asanas), conscious channeling of energy through gestures and neuromuscular locks (mudras, bandhas), breath–body movement integrating practices (kriyas), and breath work through pranayama.
However, the most important point is that some responsibility for health, wellbeing, and healing lies in the hands of each individual. We, as therapists, empower our clients and facilitate their efforts towards self-healing. The Purananuru7 says, “Life’s good comes not from others, nor its gifts, nor ills. Man’s suffering and its relief are both found within.”
Principles of yoga therapy
When we set out to practice yoga therapy, it is vital that we understand and teach the principles of this unique system to our clients in the following way:
1. Developing awareness of the body, emotions, and mind: Awareness of the body can be achieved by conscious bodywork synchronized with breath and awareness in order to qualify as a psychosomatic technique. However, being aware of the emotions and thought processes is a challenge, and may take a lot of practice.
2. Changing dietary habits: Most disorders are directly or indirectly linked to unhealthy dietary patterns that need to be assessed and then addressed.
3. Conscious relaxation of the entire body: Relaxation is often all that most patients need in order to improve their physical condition. Stress is the major culprit and may be the causative, aggravating, or precipitating factor in many psychosomatic disorders. The relaxation part of every yoga session is important as it produces rest, rejuvenation, reinvigoration, and reintegration of all of the body’s systems, down to the cellular level.
4. Slowing down the breath, making it quiet and deep: Rapid, uncontrolled, irregular breathing is a sign of ill health, hyperventilation, and an overactive mind. Slow, deep, and regular controlled breathing through the nose is a sign of health. Breath is the link between body and mind, connecting physical, physiological, and mental factors. When the breath is slowed down, the mind is calm and the metabolic processes are also slowed; anabolic activities begin the process of healing and rebuilding.
5. Calming down the mind and focusing it inwardly: Breath work is the most convenient and effective tool for training and management of the mind. Together with the practice of focused concentration during meditation, this will lead to bringing the mind under control.
6. Improving the flow of healing “pranic life energy”: Prana is the energy of life and it can be used effectively for healing. The various energies driving different physiological functions of the body (vayu)8 need to be assessed and corrected to bring about harmony. As an example, in those suffering digestive disorders, the focus may be more on balancing the functional energy of that area (samana vayu), whereas in pelvic conditions or in cases of constipation, it would be more on the functional energy centered in the pelvic region (apana vayu).
7. Non-reaction to omnipresent stressors: We have very little control over our surrounding environment and the stressors within it. So often the only way to reduce the impact of stress levels is by increasing our ability to deal with them. As the saying goes, “When face to face with the innumerable thorns in a forest, we may either choose to spend all our time picking them up or choose to wear a pair of shoes and walk through the forest.” The difference is primarily in the attitude that is consciously chosen. Practicing points 1–6 will result in effective management of our reaction to stressors.
8. Increasing self-reliance and self-confidence: The challenges we encounter every day should be reframed and understood as opportunities for change. We must understand that we have the inner power to overcome each and every challenge that life throws at us.
9. Facilitating natural elimination of wastes: The natural elimination of wastes from the body is facilitated by cleaning practices such as the upper gastrointestinal cleanser (dhauti), lower gastrointestinal cleanser (basti), and nasopharyngeal cleanser (neti). Accumulation and stagnation of waste materials in either the inner or outer environment always causes problems. Yogic cleansing practices help to wash out the impurities (mala shodhana), helping the process of regeneration and facilitating healing.
10. Taking responsibility for our own health: Perhaps this is the most important principle. This requires the client to examine their life and change the disease-forming factors that are in their reach. The current healthcare system fosters an attitude of victimhood and disempowerment, with the power and responsibility for our health entrusted completely to the medical profession. This relieves us from taking responsibility for our disease-forming habits. Yoga empowers clients with tools so they can experience their own power.
Scientific basis of using yoga as a therapy
Numerous studies have been done in the past few decades on the psychophysiological and biochemical changes occurring following the practice of yoga. A few clinical trials have also shown promise, despite yoga not being ideally suited to the scientific gold standard of “double-blind” clinical trials.
The difficulty of finding the right methods and apparatus to study the higher aspects of yoga is still to be overcome. The subtle aspects of yoga are yet to be scientifically measured, and may only be understood when more sensitive equipment and methods of research become available. Most of the research done on yoga to date focuses on its bio-physio-psychological levels.
Some important physiological benefits of yoga
Yoga produces a stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium, with a tendency toward parasympathetic nervous system dominance rather than the usual stress-induced sympathetic nervous system dominance. This is of great potential in psychosomatic stress-related illnesses. Cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory efficiency increases. Heart rate and blood pressure decrease, leading to a reduced load on the heart. Respiratory rate decreases with improved respiratory efficiency. The amplitude and smoothness of respiration increases, along with all parameters of pulmonary function such as tidal volume, vital capacity, and breath-holding time. EEG alpha waves increase. Theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation. Gastrointestinal and endocrine functions normalize, with improvement in excretory functions. Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase. Posture improves with improvement in strength, resiliency, and endurance. Body weight normalizes and sleep improves, with increased energy levels, and immunity increases with improved ability for pain tolerance.
Some important psychological benefits of yoga
Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase with better self-acceptance and self-actualization. There is better social adjustment with a
