Living Yoga

There is a new book that I'm adding to my recommended reading list . . . Yoga As Medicine.  Below is a very interesting chart from the beginning of the book showing different ailments and the percentage of people who were helped in those ailments from a yoga practice.

Medical Condition                                    #of people reporting            %helped by yoga
Alcoholism                                               26                                       100
Anxiety                                                   838                                      94
Arthritis and Rheumatic Disorders              589                                      90
Asthma or Bronchitis                                226                                      88
Back Disorders                                        1,142                                    98
Cancer                                                    29                                        90
Diabetes                                                  10                                        80
Duodenal Ulcers                                        40                                       90
Heart Disease                                          50                                        94
Hemorrhoids                                            391                                      88
High Blood Pressure                                  150                                      84
Insomnia                                                  542                                      82
Menopausal Disorders                               247                                      83
Menstrual Problems                                   317                                      68
Migraine                                                   464                                      80
Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease     112                                     96
Obesity                                                     240                                     74
Premenstrual Syndrome                             848                                     77
Smoking                                                    219                                     74


If you have any ailment that effects your physical abilities be sure to let your yoga teacher know so that you can work together to make your practice as beneficial as it can be.  Not every class, or every pose is right for every body and this is the best way to insure that you get yoga that is right for you.