and body tissues, thereby easing stress and fatigue and boosting overall physical and psychological wellness. Proper breathing is is designed to work all parts of the body—stretching and ton-must pass the National Certifidisciplined workout that releases muscle tension, tones the peutic Massage and Bodywork.Yo gaYoga is thought to have developed in India some 5000 years ago and is attributed to an Indian physician and Sanskrit scholar named Patanjali. The objective of yoga is to integrate the phys-ical, mental, and spiritual energies that enhance health and well-being (Trivieri & Anderson, 2002). Yoga has been found to be especially helpful in relieving stress and in improving ing muscles and keeping joints fla major component of yoga. It is believed that yoga breathing—a allow natural healing to occur. The complete routine of poses deep, diaphramatic breathing—increases oxygen to the brain energy.the meditation and breathing exercises, to achieve a balanced, practice the meditation and deep breathing associated with yoga fitries is hatha yoga. Hatha yoga uses body postures, along with internal organs, and energizes the mind, body, and spirit, to nd that they are able to achieve a profound feeling of relaxation.The most familiar type of yoga practiced in Western coun-Another component of yoga is meditation. Individuals who cation Examination for Thera- exible. Studies have shown that Complementary Therapies ●^387
1. Petting a dog or cat has been shown to lower blood pressure. regularly.back pain, stress, migraine, insomnia, high blood pressure, rapid heart rates, and limited mobility (Sadock & Sadock, 2007; Steinberg, 2002; Trivieri & Anderson, 2002).Pet TherapyThe therapeutic value of pets is no longer just theory. Evidence has shown that animals can directly infl 2. Bringing a pet into a nursing home or other institution for and physical well-being. Many pet-therapy programs have been established across the country and the numbers are increasing yoga has provided benefithe following:results of human interaction with pets. Some of these include Several studies have provided information about the positive In one study, volunteers experienced a 7.1 mm Hg drop in systolic and an 8.1 mm Hg decrease in diastolic blood pres-sure when they talked to and petted their dogs, as opposed to reading aloud or resting quietly (Whitaker, 2000).the elderly has been shown to enhance a client’s mood and cial effects to some individuals with uence a person’s mental
2 2506_Ch23_370-389.indd Sec1:387 506 Ch 23 370 - 389 .indd Sec 1 : 387 10/1/10 9:38:34 AM 10 / 1 / 10 9 : 38 : 34 AM