The Direction of Yoga As a Form of Therapy

How can we expect Yoga to be recognized as a viable therapy, along side traditional western medicine? Much like many of the other holistic approaches to health, Yoga is not backed by any "deep pockets" of financial power, in comparison to Fortune 500 companies and the International corporate giants.

In contrast to Yoga, the pharmaceutical lobby is composed of the paid representatives of huge biomedicine corporations, who definitely influence government policies. Yoga has no influence over governments outside of India.

Most Yoga teachers, studios, and ashrams cannot afford to pay for one impartial study to be performed. Yoga does not qualify as an irritation to the eyes of the pharmaceutical lobby. Biomedicine corporations annually pay millions of dollars in research and development of their products.

One might say: "Yoga has no chance of recognition as a genuine therapy, because it has no major financial backing." Add to this, the lack of medical studies on a 5,000 year old health maintenance system has not added to the credibility of Yoga as a viable therapy.

Yet, all is not lost. Students of Yoga tend to tell their friends, family, co-workers, and anyone who will listen about the benefits of steady practice. Their reason is based on results, which they personally see and feel from the continued systematic training in a science of life we know as: "Yoga."

This has led to a "grass roots" level promotion of Yoga. Occasionally, a university might receive a grant to run a study about the effectiveness of Yoga on people who have a particular ailment. The end results are usually the same: Yoga is helpful in many areas of health because it approaches the whole being.

For example: If you have a knee problem, Yoga approaches the knee and the rest of your body, as well. Many of us have learned this first hand, because our ailments practically drove us to our first Yoga class. The results are: We keep coming back to class because Yoga helped us.

How can Yoga or any alternative therapy become recognized for its true worth? As already stated, funding for independent trials, research, and studies usually requires a large financial investment. This indicates that Yoga will go through many more years of research before gaining formal medical or scientific recognition.

There may be a few companies that manage to profit by selling healthy lifestyle services and products, but their sales pale in comparison to the prescription drug business. The key to proliferating Yoga therapy is public education about the benefits of proactive health maintenance.

Schools are making the effort to educate the public about the benefits of practicing Yoga. At a time when many families do not have adequate health insurance, Yoga offers cost effective solutions.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.

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He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html