Doctors Recommend Yoga

This is a news article. Click link above to goto site.
______

Jennifer Bockhorst leaves work a bit early most Wednesdays to drive from Abingdon, Va., to attend a yoga class in Kingsport. After suffering from migraine and tension headaches for years, Bockhorst decided to try yoga for the treatment and prevention of these headaches.

“I bought my first yoga video in 1997 and for about 10 years did yoga off and on with different videos. And though this did help my headaches, you never push yourself as hard with a video as you do in a class,” Bockhorst said.

She has since been regularly attending yoga classes at The Red Clover Wellness Spa and Yoga Studio in Kingsport and says the improvement in her headaches has “been really dramatic.”

“I still get migraines, but not nearly as often and they don’t last as long,” Bockhorst said.

At least two local physicians won’t dispute what Bockhorst’s yoga experience has brought her.

Dr. Reid Blackwelder is not only a physician at East Tennessee State University Family Physicians of Kingsport, he also practices yoga and teaches Bockhorst’s yoga class at The Red Clover and says he recommends it to his patients “all the time.”

Some recent studies conducted at Duke University and the University of North Carolina have shown that there are indeed proven health benefits for patients who practice yoga. Specifically, these studies have looked at patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, hot flashes, and sleep and energy levels for postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.

But Blackwelder points out other studies show yoga can help people who also suffer a whole host of other ailments as well, including depression, hypertension, arthritis, chronic back pain, anxiety and stress.

And it’s this stress so many of us experience in our daily lives that can only exacerbate an already existing health condition.

Dr. Lisa Broyles, a family practice physician with Blue Ridge Primary Care in Johnson City, said the stress of medical school is what initially drew her to yoga. And today she does yoga on her lunch break, especially if she’s had a stressful morning or a difficult encounter with a patient. She said she keeps a yoga mat, yoga music and a lavender eye pillow in her office at all times.

“In so many ways, yoga is not only good for your physical body, but mentally, it teaches you to be calm in the midst of stressful situations,” Broyles said.

Because the health benefits yoga provides are numerous, Broyles said she does often recommend it to her patients.

“By becoming more in-tune with your body you are able to optimize your health. You begin to listen to your body. Women who take yoga have a better self-image and self-esteem. They have fewer eating disorders, less depression and anxiety. It also can improve obsessive-compulsive disorder because it teaches you to listen to your body. When there’s something out of harmony, it teaches you what’s going wrong and how you can fix it instead of having to rely on medications,” she said.

It’s been around for thousands of years, and though this ancient Hindu practice originated in India, yoga is becoming more and more popular with Westerners, with millions now taking part in what’s proving to be much more than just a “fad” or “trend.”

Most Westernized yoga is comprised of controlled breathing and poses that may often be named for mammals, fish or reptiles. Meditation may also be a third component of some types of yoga, bringing “harmony” to the body and mind, said Broyles.

“With each posture you take one breath in. When you take your deep breath as you’re doing a certain posture, you’re bringing in peace and when you exhale, you’re breathing out stress,” she said.

Improved flexibility is another bonus yoga brings.

As we age, we lose much of the flexibility in our joints and muscles, which can often lead to injuries and other aches and pains.

“Yoga lubricates the joints. It improves flexibility of the spine and strengthens muscles that help bones not rub on bones. It actually makes the body younger again,” said Broyles.

Blackwelder says, thanks to yoga, he has flexibility today at age 51 that he hasn’t had since his days in college.

And anyone of any age can do some sort of yoga, experts say.

“One of the most important treatments for depression, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and obesity is exercise. And we all know that. But the reality is to get an out-of-shape 270-pound patient with heart disease and diabetes out exercising, whether it means going to the gym, riding a bike or even walking, may not be realistic. But yoga doesn’t require the same strength or cardiovascular level to jump in. Anybody can do some versions of yoga. It’s a great entry point [to exercise] for people with heart disease or diabetes,” Blackwelder said.

Broyles said she believes one reason the medical community is finally starting to come around on the issue of yoga and realize it can be a very real treatment option for many patients is because this is what patients want.

“The medical community is recognizing there’s more to us than our physical bodies and that people need something that blends their mental and spiritual health with their physical, and yoga is the perfect avenue for that,” said Broyles. “I think younger doctors are realizing a holistic approach to health is better. Medical schools are even starting to be more open-minded to teaching students and encouraging them to look into some alternative help and realizing that our patients are complete people. They’re encouraging a physical exam that encompasses knowing your patient’s hobbies, likes, dislikes and religion. Certainly a more holistic approach to medical training encourages a more holistic doctor in the future,” she said.

Because yoga did originate from Eastern culture, some Westerners may be reluctant to give it a try, fearing it goes against their own religious beliefs. But Broyles points out yoga can easily be individualized and may even make you feel closer to God.

“I think that certainly it did come from a Middle Eastern background, but that doesn’t mean you can’t adapt it to what you want it to be for you. You can even listen to Christian music as you do it. I would say that I am a Christian, but yet I really enjoy yoga. I admit that when I first heard about yoga, I was a little concerned about it, but after getting into it, I realized it actually improved my relationship with God in that I could really focus and meditate better. Your meditation is simply focusing on whatever you consider God to be for you,” Broyles said.

Blackwelder agrees and says because yoga is part of another culture it is readily associated with other beliefs, but is certainly not the basis of any religion or belief system.

“From a health perspective, yoga is an exercise program that can be used to improve strength, balance, muscle tone, flexibility and breathing. It can be a great time to pray, which transcends all religions,” he said.
To help minimize yoga-related injuries, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends the following:
• If you have any medical conditions or injuries, speak to your doctor before participating in yoga.

• Work with a qualified yoga instructor. Ask about his or her experience and credentials.

• Warm up thoroughly before a yoga session — cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are vulnerable to injury.

• Wear appropriate clothing that allows for proper movement.

• Beginners should start slowly and learn the basics first — such as breathing — rather than trying to stretch too far.

• If you are unsure of a pose or movement, ask questions.

• Know your limits. Do not try positions beyond your experience or comfort level.

• Learn what type of yoga you are performing. There are hundreds of different forms of yoga, some more strenuous than others. It is important to learn which type of yoga will best suit your needs.

• Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially if participating in Bikram or “hot” yoga.

• Listen to your body. If you are experiencing pain or exhaustion while participating in yoga, stop or take a break. If pain persists, speak with a physician.

Blackwelder hopes yoga will become more common in the Tri-Cities. With more and more yoga classes being offered locally, including some at the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA and the Kingsport Senior Center, patients have more options than ever to give this form of exercise a shot and experience the potential benefits for themselves.

For Bockhorst, the benefits are immeasurable. The time spent each week doing yoga is what she calls her “calm hour.”

“I feel calmer for days afterwards, and if I have to miss a class, I feel it the next week,” she said.