INTERVIEW
THE BENEFITS OF YOGA
How can yoga help those living with HIV/Aids? International studies have shown that yoga benefits people with TB and HIV in a number of ways. Living with HIV and Aids is
stressful, and yoga can greatly assist with stress reduction, as well as helping ease some symptoms and side-effects of HIV medication including joint pain and digestive problems. Other studies have shown
yoga can improve mental health, body image, and even help prevent the spread of the virus by encouraging a more proactive approach to care and treatment. In terms of TB, yoga is all about
breathing and improving lung capacity. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of yoga in treating people with TB.
Any other benefits of yoga for these communities? Studies have shown a significant and lasting effect of meditation on drug and alcohol abuse. Many addictions begin as coping mechanisms, or ways of filling a spiritual void. When you replace this with yoga, people in treatment for addiction can learn to deal with their emotions and environment in healthier ways. Yoga also shows potential as
a treatment for drug addiction through demonstrated anti- depressant and stress reduction effects. The intense breathing patterns of yoga release the body’s natural pleasure-producing endorphins, which helps suppress addictive behaviours while restoring the brain’s dopamine functions to healthier levels.
benefits of yoga in their own language, so they understand what it’s all about.
Are there any other aspects to the project besides yoga? We’ve found that other needs have come out of the yoga classes – like people wanting to eat more healthily, but not knowing how to given their dire financial situations. We’ve gone into the townships and given classes on cooking healthy food on small budgets – including encouraging people to grow their own vegetables and become self-sustaining.
How have you funded the Township Yogi project? Completely through donations, although hopefully we’ll soon be able to start tapping into some international foundations and funding organisations that focus on the social issues we’re trying to help alleviate. All administration work is done
voluntarily and Township Yogi directors aren’t paid, so everything goes directly to the people of the townships who benefit from the project. The only ‘salaries’ paid are the small stipends given to township
Basic yoga clothing is provided for the students, as many of them only own a few items of clothing – none suitable for yoga 34 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital July 2015 © Cybertrek 2015
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