Fit Body Health Benefits of Yoga
Resolving Trauma and Other Mind-Body Challenges by Carrie Gauthier
movement desensitization and reprocessing have shown limited effectiveness due to high dropout and nonresponse rates. On the other hand, studies have found that engaging in yoga and other mind-body practices can reduce intrusive memories, avoidance and emotional arousal symptoms, as well as anxiety, depression and anger associated with PTSD. Yoga therapy improves critical factors in
addiction recovery, including emotional balance, mental clarity and stress reduction. In a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, yoga for the treatment of substance abuse disorder was determined to be an effective option.
originally comprised breath work, and the physical postures developed over time. According to the global data platform Statista, nearly 34 million Americans practice numerous types of yoga, while science continues to provide evidence of its healing potential.
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Calming Effects With the frenetic pace of life today, many people live in a permanent state of anxiety. Yoga can ease the panic and malaise by activating the parasympathetic nervous system to decrease stress hormones, blood pressure and heart rate. “Yoga therapy differs from traditional
psychotherapy in scope and aim. Rather than delving into traumas, yoga empowers individuals to be present, moving away
22 Central Florida
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he first known reference to yoga is in the Upanishads Sanskrit texts, written 2,500 years ago. Te practice
from personal narratives,” says Adam Flores, a certified yoga therapist from Port St. Lucie, Florida, specializing in addiction and mental health. “Trained yoga therapists offer grounding techniques and skillful check-ins, especially for trauma cases, improving heart rate variability, vagal tone and overall nervous system health.”
Mental Health Benefits A 2011 meta-analysis study published in Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders indicates that yoga may be an effective treatment option for severe mental illness, with the added advantage of being less toxic than pharmaceutical treatments. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is
a significant issue facing the U.S. military and a growing problem for teens that have experienced violent or traumatizing events. Conventional treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and eye
Popular Yoga Disciplines Yoga has developed into a variety of styles that can meet the goals and objectives of their practitioners. Some of the more popular formats include:
• Vinyasa: An up-tempo class of postures or poses (asanas) oſten accompanied by high-energy music that typically results in a consistently elevated heart rate. A 2017 study published in Te FASEB Journal found that eight weeks of vinyasa yoga improved physical fitness, relieved stress and improved mental well-being.
• Yin: Tis form of yoga focuses on gentle, passive stretches held for one to three minutes, offering ample opportunity to release stress and tension. Poses are oſten supported by props such as bolsters, straps, blocks, pillows and blankets. Long, slow, deep breathing promotes relaxation to help the practitioner hold each pose for extended periods of time. Yin yoga stimulates and stretches fascia, the thin connective tissue throughout the body, as well as ligaments and joints, resulting in increased flexibility.
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