My Critique Of Yoga And The Clinical World Of Counseling

Yoga is an ancient Hindu discipline that uses meditation and poses to help relax a person’s mind and body. Yoga is a great activity to share with someone who is going through addiction recovery because it will help challenge their mind, helping them forget about any distractions they may be having.

Yoga has been shown to be effective as an adjunctive treatment for a wide variety of disorders, including epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease, insomnia, and chronic pain (Streeter et al., 2012; van der Kolk, 2014). Streeter et al. (2012) propose that yoga is helpful in such a wide variety of conditions because it reduces allostatic load in the stress response symptom, decreases sympathetic nervous system activity, increases parasympathetic nervous system activity, and increases gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) levels. Overall, yoga is a practice that may help the body return to a more optimal state of

In addition, these practices may promote an individuals’ personal development through increasing emotional stability, self-satisfaction, self-awareness, life-satisfaction, as well as improved mental, physical and social wellbeing which are necessary to work-through and overcome addiction. Current research supports the effectiveness of yoga and mindfulness meditation in treating addiction and facilitating the individual through the recovery process. Further research in this area is needed to address the efficacy of yoga and mindfulness mediation in the adolescent population as it relates to a decreased prevalence of substance use initiation. This is an important subject that needs to be further researched because the current prevention programs within United States schools may not be effective enough in preventing adolescents from using substances. An alternative approach using yoga and mindfulness may be helpful in assisting adolescents to obtain greater emotional self-control and decision-making skills to resist temptations for substance

The ancient practice of yoga is called meditation in motion ( ). It is a technique that uses physical postures and controlled breathing to lengthen and strengthen the spine and increase flexibility. It also builds strength, calms the mind, improves concentration, promotes patience, and relieves stress. Yoga can also contribute to a greater sense of control in more acute states when experiencing drug cravings, insomnia, and agitation ( ). Many addicts in recovery find that the serenity they learned in yoga acts as a natural tranquilizer that allows them to step back and evaluate their thoughts with greater clarity. A person who experiences a craving, for example, may apply the practice of mindfulness to that craving and acknowledges it without emotion. One can recognize it as an object of active addiction and let it go without using the drug. Regular yoga practice is needed to fully experience these kind of benefits. Overall, the huge addiction problem is complex, requiring multiple methods of intervention and

Muralidoraiswamy, P. “Yoga on Our Minds: A Systematic Review of Yoga for Neuropsychiatric Disorder.” Shirleytelle Frontiers in Psychiatry, Jan. 2013. This article focuses on the physiological aspect of a yoga class. It essentially explains what happens in a person’s brain after going through a hatha yoga class. This study also talks about yoga as a long-term mental health solution, since typically yoga is a life-style. Overall, the study provides a scientific look at more personal experiences.

Previously discussed was a study centered on professionals using yoga as a technique for improving relationships with their patients, but this study emphasizes the importance of having compassion for yourself. In Newsome et. al (2012) study, thirty-one college students about to enter helping professions, including counseling, nursing, teaching, etc., attended a 6 week long mindfulness group which included mindful yoga. This research showed that after 6 weeks, the students' perceived stress levels had decreased and their mindfulness and self-compassion significantly increased. After the intervention, participants' feelings and thoughts pertaining to the impact of mindful yoga were recorded. One student claimed, "I am beginning to have more

Deemed the “land of opportunity,” by those who emigrated to America, it is only natural that as our country grew, so to would the development of new concepts, introduction of new practices, and influence from outside nations. While it may not be common knowledge, the concept, and practice, of yoga was introduced to the United States just over 100 years after the Declaration of Independence

Methods: 8 participants (66.5 ± 0.3 years) attended 2 60-min Hatha yoga sessions/week for 7 weeks, and

Smith finds that yoga activities produce mental–physical bridging and the integration clients need to detoxify their bodies. He says breath work produces mental–physical integration and takes clients into altered states of consciousness. Mask making and rituals help

(2013) do not explicitly state a research question or hypothesis, but note that “yoga practice may improve the QOL and mood status of female heroin abusers under detoxification treatment” (p. 261). This question is appropriate, given the data previously reviewed. The independent variable, participation in a yoga program during inpatient treatment for heroin abuse, was clearly defined both conceptually and operationally to include participation in yoga sessions 5 days a week for 6 months, as well as DVD instruction (p. 261-262). The dependent variables of the study were identified as patterns of mood states and patterns of quality of life (p. 266), which are both reflective of self-efficacy enhancement as it is related to improved mental health and overall well-being (p. 261). These were conceptually and operationally defined using the Profile of Mood Status (POMS) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) instruments. Both groups received routine hospital care for heroin addiction, which was defined. One extraneous variable that was not controlled in the study was the interaction between participants in the control group and the intervention group, which may have affected the groups outcomes by increasing the risk of contamination of treatments (Polit & Beck,

Yoga's psychological benefits include; improvement of anxiety, depression, stress tolerance, addictive disorders, bi polar disorders, eating disorders, insomnia and overall emotional balance. Physical benefits include; improvement of chronic pain, reduction of heart rate and blood pressure, increased circulation, and function. The benefits continue; improvement in venous return of the

When a person practices yoga, with yogic attitude (attitude of patience, persistent practice, overcoming obstacles within self, that is, trouncing laziness, anger, delusion, and desire for being different or better than others), there are several changes in physiology.[2]. Yoga elevates brain neurotransmitter levels like gamma-amino butyric acid that may help treat depression and anxiety.[3]. Yoga has also been shown to be an effective treatment option for depression; it is cost-effective and is easy to implement.[4]. It gives tranquility to your mind thus good for those facing problems of depression.Depression is a common disorder affecting up to 17% of the population during their lifetime.[5]. Agitated depression is most commonly seen in middle-aged people and older adults.This study is to verify whether vrikshasana helps on depression people to come out of their heavy depression and to avoid side effects due to long-period addiction of dosage so such alternate method can be

In yoga unlike the gym and all we suffer a smaller amount of pain and

Yoga helps an individual from three points of view that is mentally, physically and spiritually.

In today’s environment, many people are suffering with the stress and anxiety of day to day living and are finding themselves unable to cope with life’s little emergencies. Prescription drugs are on the rise due to the increasing need for people to deal with their stress and anxiety. However, many people are searching for ways to be less stressed and live a happy and healthy life without drugs. If stress and anxiety are getting the best of you, then think about grabbing a mat and giving yoga and meditation a spin. With that in mind, this paper will take a look at the benefits of yoga and meditation to create a more peaceful and healthy lifestyle.