Yoga for Health

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Yoga for Health

• Gina Ord, MS, OTR/L, RYT, CYT-C
• Presented January 15, 2009
• Yakima Yoga

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Objectives

• Experience a brief yoga practice session
• Learn how yoga fits historically in
  health/wellness models
• Learn about the pentagon of wellness, or kosha
  assessment, and how it applies to healthcare
• Experience a state of deep relaxation and bliss ?

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The History of Yoga and Yoga Therapy

• Yoga comes from India starting BCE. Its lineage
  includes not one book, but many, including
• the Upanishads (first millenium BCE to 1656)
• the Bhagavad Gita (first century BCE to second
  century CE)
• the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (1600s)
• the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (100BCE and 500 CE)

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The Yoga Sutras outline 8 limbs, or principles of
yoga

• yamas- universal codes of conduct
• niyamas- individual codes of conduct
• asana- postures. Named for nature, animals, and
  sages of Yoga. Used to be primarily seated
  postures, which evolved to more dynamic postures
• pranayama- science of the breath

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Yoga Sutras, contd

• pratyahara- withdrawl from external senses
• dharana- concentration or focus
• dhyana- meditation
• samadhi- fully awake, conscious state (i.e.
  enlightenment)

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Yoga Therapy

• Yoga therapy, derived from the Yoga tradition
  of Patanjali and the Ayurvedic system of health
  care refers to the adaptation and application of
  Yoga techniques and practices to help individuals
  facing health challenges at any level manage
  their condition, reduce symptoms, restore
  balance, increase vitality, and improve
  attitude.
• -Gary Kraftsow, American Viniyoga Institute

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Yoga Therapy

• Being a yoga therapist requires constant self
  analysis and reflection. We must deepen our
  self-awareness before we can deepen the students
  self awareness.
• -Ginger Garner, Professional Yoga Therapy Studies

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Yoga Therapy History

• T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989)- taught yoga
  philosophy with emphasis on health. Two students
  influential in the development of yoga therapy
  include
• B.K.S. Iyengar- (born 1918)- published Light on
  Yoga in 1966, which opened up yoga teaching and
  practice to westerners
• - T.K.V. Desikachar son of Krisnnamacharya and
  founded the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga
• Foundation. Pioneer in using yoga as
  therapy.

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• Life is full of pleasure, pain, tension, stress,
  and strain. Man is affected by inner and outer
  environment, social structures, competition, and
  never-ending struggle. He is afflicted within
  himself by anxieties, worries, desires, lust,
  anger, greed, aversion, hatred, temptations, and
  so on. Modern living has changed simple life
  into a complexity and affected the consciousness
  . . . Yogic methods give the maximum and the
  minutest techniques for the cure of a soiled body
  and mind. In this sense, yoga is therapy. The
  treatment for a disorderly mental and physical
  condition or disease by remedial techniques is
  called therapy. -B.K.S Iyengar

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Yoga Therapy History

• Americans who have advocated to use yoga as a
  healing/therapeutic tool are
• - Gary Kraftsow
• - Judith Hanson Lasater, PT, PhD
• - Timothy McCall, MD
• - Ginger Garner, PT

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Yoga Therapy History

• The International Association of Yoga Therapists
  (IAYT) was formed in 1989 to establish Yoga as a
  recognized and respected therapy. It publishes
  the peer-reviewed International Journal of Yoga
  Therapy and holds an annual conference to
  disseminate evidence-based practice.

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The Pentagon of Wellness

• Term coined by Ginger Garner, PT
• The Pancha Maya Model, 5 Layers of the Human
  Being (Koshas)
• Comes from the Taittriyha Upanishad
• This method of assessment/evaluation commonly
  used by yoga therapists

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The Pentagon of Wellness
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Annamayakosha- physical body

• Physical structures and functions
• Pain levels
• Muscular tests, range of motion, postural
  assessment
• Discipline-specific tests or assessments
• Medical history including diagnosis and
  medications
• Dietphysical nourishment for the body

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Pranamayakosha- energy body

• How are energy levels in morning, midday, and
  afternoon
• How restful is sleep?
• Observationsfidgeting, restlessness, vs. slowed
  movements
• Does the person have shallow or long breaths? Do
  they hold their breath?

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Manomayakosha- psychological body

• How are the persons actions affecting others?
• How are the persons actions affecting
  themselves?
• Is the person aware of any psychological
  roadblocks that may prevent healing?
• Is the patient/family overwhelmed?
• Is there a disconnect between the persons
  outlook/action and day to day activities?

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Vijanamayakosha- intellectual body

• How does the patient best absorb new information?
• How does the patient/family understand their
  condition?
• Can the patient engage in self-monitoring and
  self-awaress?
• Can the patient/family follow-through with a home
  program?

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Anandamayakosha- spiritual body

• What is a persons direction in life, their
  bigger picture?
• - What would the patient like to be doing in
  1 month, in 1 year?
• Is there a religious belief or set of core
  values?
• What is a source of joy or nourishment?
• What helps the person be in the moment?

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Resources/References

• American Viniyoga Institute www.viniyoga.com
• International Association of Yoga Therapists
  www.iayt.org
• Professional Yoga Therapy Studies
  www.proyogatherapy.com
• The Heart of Yoga Developing a Personal Practice
  by T .K.V. Desikachar
• Yoga as Medicine by Timothy McCall