By Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
How has Yoga kept surviving for thousands of years? Yoga has survived gluttony and poverty. Some people question everything they do, when an economy turns tough. Yet, people will still pursue their vices in the worst of times.
It is no secret that many people do not practice preventative health, whether the economy is good or bad. Yet, it is clear to see that people will spend discretionary income on bad habits, even when money is scarce. Why? The public has a difficult time comprehending that good health should actually feel good.
Yoga feels good, but the masses still have a hard time with the “feel good” concept. As Yoga has continued to grow, some people felt the need to pay penance for their past poor health practices. As a result, new niche forms of Yoga were created for people who feel guilty about past gluttony.
The answer to this need, for paying penance, is as follows. Turn the temperature of the room up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Insult your students, because they love it. Turn your studio into “Devil’s Island.” Yes, I’m joking, but some people seem to love it. Boot camp Yoga, and being tortured mentally and physically, during classes, is still popular.
Now, back to reality, or at least, logical ideas. Yoga teachers should engage the local medical community by contacting them. Doctors may send their patients to Yoga classes, but teachers should make local medical professionals aware of their services. The following services will be of interest to local doctors and chiropractors.
Pain Management: At one time or another, everyone encounters pain that is beyond their personal limits. Yoga provides many solutions that can integrate with medical treatment. The elimination of pain is a common goal of medicine and Yoga.
Stress Management: Some people never encounter stress overload, but they are “few and far between.” People will benefit with permanent stress reducing solutions from Yoga and medicine.
Attention Deficit Disorders: It seems that all of us have them these days. We cannot just blame it on the kids. Over exposure to electronic gadgets, and processed food, has caused a massive attention deficit.
Body Weight Management: Hatha Yoga practice was never designed to be a quick fat loss lifestyle. Large numbers of people performed manual labor, when Yoga was created. Yet, Hatha Yoga has low impact movement and a sensible diet plan. The Yogic diet consists of natural, unprocessed vegetarian foods. Reducing the intake of meat has been shown to improve health.
It is true that the Yogic diet is not for everyone. Raw natural foods are cool, and vegetarian diets can be a hard sell to meat eaters, but it cannot hurt to eat more raw vegetables, fruits, and grains than we do now. The healthy diet pyramids, which are endorsed by physicians, around the world, agree.
Lastly, there is a need for prenatal Yoga, kids Yoga, and chair Yoga. Each of these forms addresses a person’s needs at a specific time in their life. Children need a good start in life. Yoga is part of the solution. Chair Yoga has become much more than a practice for elders. Chair Yoga helps those who experience sudden trauma, neurological disorders, and obesity, in the form of rehabilitation.
© Copyright 2009 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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