Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care

Yoga has always been considered an important instrument to achieve personal transformation. But in modern times, yoga is becoming widely recognized as having important health benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined human health in 1948 as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Today, there is a consensus that our health is the result of a balance between genetics, the environment, and lifestyle. Health organizations used to classify yoga as an “alternative medicine,” but today, it is better defined as part of a new approach called “integrative medicine” (IM), which is the amalgamation of “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM).This book is a dazzling tool to appreciate the therapeutic benefits of yoga. In addition to the four editors, who are yoga therapy experts, the book includes the contributions of another 62 internationally recognized yoga teachers and therapists and 25 consultants, from different yoga styles and lineages. The book has four introductory chapters about the origins and foundations of this field and the main research results on the psychophysiology of yoga. Through 17 clinical chapters, the book deals with a wide range of conditions including mental health, musculoskeletal, neurological, endocrine, cancer, cardiorespiratory, and particular issues related to specific populations (children, seniors, disabled, etc.).Each chapter presents the scientific rationale for using yoga as a therapeutic instrument and offers a review and analysis of research done on each subject and includes some “clinical insights” from the professional experience of the specialists. The last two chapters concentrate on how to implement yoga therapy and future directions in research and clinical care. The editors said in the Preface: “The intention of this text is to serve as a comprehensive resource for physicians and other health care professionals, as well as yoga therapists, instructors, researchers, and practitioners.” It is interesting to observe numerous references to the Iyengar approach to yoga as it provides a recognized therapeutic contribution to health. The book has a rich bibliography, numerous tables, and a large collection of pictures.Dr. Dean Ornish (U. of California, San Francisco) and author of the pioneering book, “Dr Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease,” (1990), wrote a Foreword, where he says that “changing lifestyle actually changes your genes … Our latest research found that these comprehensive lifestyle changes may even lengthen telomeres, the ends of your chromosomes that control aging … These lifestyle changes are part of the most influential trend in medicine today – what is known as “Lifestyle Medicine,” which is lifestyle as treatment as well as prevention.”Dr. Timothy McCall, one of the four editors, is the author of the best-selling book, “Yoga as Medicine” (2007). He is also the medical editor of “Yoga Journal.” Recently, following a teaching engagement in London, he was invited to speak at a hearing in the British House of Lords on the healing benefits of yoga. Three other physicians presented a review of the scientific evidence and an analysis of the cost effectiveness of yoga in health care.

Very informative and helpful to make the connection with traditional yoga principles and modern science

The authors bring together the scrutinizing mind of evidenced based practice and a broad and thorough look at yoga in ways I have not seen elsewhere. This is thoughtful and mindful work bridging "Western based medicine" and yoga (and related) studies. For me, it answers how I can combine practices, how things all fit together. Unique! Well researched and written.

Good book overall for new practitioners

Gives an overview of studies relevant to yoga and health. This collection lists study sizes, data collection methods, etc in tables so that they are easily compared. A wonderful reference for knowledge of the studies and research supporting yoga.

if you ever want to mention, i mean just mention, how beneficial yoga practice has become as an adjunct to the traditional healing arts of the West, here's 500+ pages of backup. a little dry, but thrilling if you're into it.

Unbelievable compilation of current studies. And they comment on what may need to be checked in the future.

Gift for my husband. He loves it.

We asked for a replacement through Amazon as the first book was also damaged. They sent us this copy which is even worse! Don’t buy from these people. The book itself is great, but buy it elsewhere!!!

I appreciated the depth and breath of information and research in this book. Well worth reading cover to cover.

Brilliantly compiled. Huge treasure trove of index of Clinical Research articles proving Yoga's medical power. The disease-wise classification makes it very useful. Probably better than anything put together by Indian medical researchers of Yoga!!

Este libro constituye una muy buena herramienta de consulta. Su descripción es detallada y es clara. Sus autores tienen reputada experiencia en el campo

In great condition