Absolute Beginner's Guide to Alternative Medicine

■ Increases circulation

■ Lowers blood pressure

■ Increases lymph circulation

■ Improves digestion and elimination

■ Promotes deeper breathing

■ Increases brain endorphins, enkephalins, and serotonin

■ Increases mental acuity

■ Augments alpha and theta brain wave activity

■ Promotes relaxation

■ Manages stress

Yoga is not a cure-all for disease. It can help, however, to relieve symptoms, decrease

pain, and improve the quality of life. It helps prevent disease by reinforcing lifestyle

changes such as positive health habits and attitudes.

How Do I Begin a Yoga Practice?

The regular practice of yoga builds and tones muscles, increases flexibility, improves

endurance, and promotes a state of relaxation. The physiologic responses are the

opposite of the fight-or-flight stress response. Stretching and deep breathing bring on

a profound sense of relaxation. Gentle stretching and range of motion joint exercises

decrease muscle tension and joint stiffness. The mindful focus on awareness of self,

breath, and energy minimizes anxiety associated with stress. Just getting your body

down on the floor tends to clear the mind. Perhaps it is because being on the floor is

so unusual to us that it changes our attitude toward and our awareness of our body.

Yoga, combined with a low-fat diet and moderate aerobic exercise, can significantly

reduce blockages in coronary arteries. Other studies have shown yoga to be effective

in treating arthritis, diabetes, mood disorders, asthma, hypertension, menstrual

cramps, back pain, and chronic fatigue.

Hatha yoga is designed by and for healthy, flexible people. Even when experiencing

a serious illness, however, most people can work on breath control even if they do

not feel up to doing the poses. The breathing exercises and relaxation response

nourish the body, quiet the mind, and contribute to a more balanced state. Before

beginning a yoga practice, you should check with your primary care practitioner if

you have recently had surgery, have a debilitating physical handicap, or have can-

cer, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, high blood pressure, HIV, multiple sclerosis, or

any other serious condition.

196 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE