By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
It has been argued that the purpose of Yoga is not based on treatment. This is ironic – at a time when Yoga is practiced widely for its stress management abilities. Add to this, Yoga therapy has steadily flourished, over centuries, as long-term practitioners became aware of the healthy side effects of Yoga practice.
At this point, it should be noted that not all forms of Yoga are the same in the therapeutic sense. Yoga has become specialized in many different areas. Some Yoga styles are designed to be physically competitive, while others may focus on specialized health issues, and there are many more specialized styles for a variety of purposes.
In the case of specialized health problems, such as the many differences in heart diseases, Yoga, walking, or swimming, are often considered as good adjuncts, to traditional medical treatment, by physicians and specialists. This would give one the feeling that Yoga is seen only as a physical exercise by the medical community.
While the purpose of Yoga is still a subject for debate among medical doctors, it should be noted that three main aspects of Yoga are part of the therapy and the practice. Those aspects are posture (asana), Yogic breathing (pranayama), and meditation.
While there is much more to Yoga therapy than the main aspects, it is worth noting that medical science, and all science, is a form of systematic knowledge, based on testing. If results cannot be measured with an instrument, they must be studied further because conclusions cannot be made. In the case of Yoga, and many other alternative therapies, positive results alone will not create a scientific conclusion.
© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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