Yoga as Therapeutic Exercise: A Practical Guide for Manual Therapists

Yoga and healthYoga and health Research on therapeutic yogaResearch on therapeutic yoga

In a simple way props have been used by yoga

practitioners from the outset. Long ago objects

like stones and branches were used. In the 1970s

we asked builders for a few bricks, in carpet shops

we asked for remnants, we used the belts from our

jeans, towels, and a lot of the furniture in our homes

to support āsanas that were too difficult to perform

independently. In those years we also saw B K S

Iyengar refining this exercise approach for patients

with different kinds of restrictions. Aging people

particularly benefited from the use of props.

In the meantime a highly sophisticated system of

props and the science behind them was developed

(Iyengar 2001a, Steinberg & Geeta 2006, Raman

2008 ). In the 1980s, B K S Iyengar advised us to

start with a basic amount of props, such as mats,

wooden bricks, blankets, belts, and chairs. Other

items such as pillows, bolsters, wooden bars, and

wooden horses have been added. For this book we

narrowed the props down to a sticky mat, a belt,

and a cork or foam brick and improvised with things

that are found in most homes, such as chairs, blan-

kets, and pillows. Also walls, corners, windowsills,

stairs, door frames, and counters may be useful.

Some authors have suggested cycles of exercises

for health promotion and as a primary or adjunct

therapy, using props and applying a mindful and

precise exercise approach. These cycles are clas-

sified according to body systems or conditions

(Mehta et al. 1990, Iyengar 2001a, b, Raman 200 8 ).

A universal underlying principle for all therapeutic

yoga approaches is to improve the posture to create

a sound foundation for the function of all systems.

With an understanding of how to use props, an infi-

nite variety of possibilities can be created according

to individual needs.

Aims to be achieved through practice

and principles underlying the exercise

approach

To meet the objectives from the therapist’s point

of view we have compiled a set of aims that can

be achieved through a healthy exercise approach.

This concept can be applied to a wide range of

patients. Practicing is based upon a set of principles

to improve mobility, strength, stamina, relaxation,

balance, coordination, synchronization, and breath-

ing naturally.

The basic exercises are divided according to the dif-

ferent areas of the body. For each area a selection of

exercises is given to reach specific aims. The core aims

are mobilizing stiff or hypomobile areas and strength-

ening or stabilizing weak or hypermobile areas. Stamina

can be improved by increasing the number of repeti-

tions or the time holding the exercise. Relaxation can

be the start or the end of an exercise or an aim on its

own. Balance, coordination, and synchronization play

an essential role in more complex exercises. Breathing

naturally is an aim for each exercise. Exercises to

achieve specific aims follow the diagnosis.

There are five principles underlying this approach:

mindfulness, precision, finetuning, economical prac-

tice, and a sufficient variety of approaches. The most

important principle is mindful exercising – aware-

ness, sensitivity. Therefore we have devoted a whole

chapter to this principle (see Chapter 2). It is highly

relevant to the health effects of practice and also to

patients’ education. Precision is essential and can be

developed by starting slowly, learning the correct

movements first. With increasing practice speed

of movement can be increased, but only as long as

precision is maintained. Finetuning is improving

the quality of exercising. It can be used to push the

boundaries of movements and ease off where nec-

essary to avoid injury. This applies to all patients.

Easing off slightly after having pushed the boundary

of an exercise opens up a variety of possibilities. In

this way some free play at the end of range of move-

ment is maintained for joints and all their surrounding

structures. Economical practice avoids unnecessary

activity and exhaustion, and with a sufficient variety

of approaches all aims can be covered.

Mindfulness, precision, finetuning and economi-

cal practice are applied to all exercises, whereas

variety applies to the program selected.

Research on therapeutic yoga

Up until the mid 20th century knowledge of the

effects of yoga was mainly based on empirical evi-

dence. It was not until the 1960s that scientific

research on the effects of yoga was undertaken.