Yoga Therapy, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The therapeutic benefits of yoga are important and instrumental in preserving human health and wellbeing. It is important to recognize the theoretical basis for yoga therapy and to be mindful of its advantages in treating patients facing many different obstacles, such as hypertension, stroke, and physical limitations. Nurses must obtain guidance and training in regards to yoga therapy in order to demonstrate its potential impact on the lives of their patients across all age groups. Yoga therapy continues to emerge and to demonstrate a legitimate approach to therapeutic patient care and treatment that supports physical and mental wellbeing in different forms.

Introduction

Yoga therapy provides a unique opportunity to explore the different dimensions of mental and physical congruency. Yoga is perhaps one of the most forward-thinking concepts associated with self-care and wellbeing that exists in today’s society, as yoga has been integrated into the lives of individuals throughout the world. However, its true therapeutic benefits in a clinical environment remain relatively unexplored. Nonetheless, there is increased interest in adopting yoga as a therapeutic approach that supports complementary and alternative medicine and holistic approaches to patient care. It is important for nurses working with patients facing a wide variety of challenges to consider yoga therapy and its benefits in preserving physical health, in addition to providing a framework for mental growth and wellbeing. The following discussion will address these objectives in greater detail and will demonstrate the importance of yoga therapy as a viable and feasible alternative for patients requiring therapeutic assistance.

Analysis

Yoga therapy is frequently utilized in the modern world as a complement to traditional fitness alternatives; however, there are other benefits to this practice that go beyond physical and mental fitness (Kaley-Isley et.al, 2010). In particular, its use with children and adolescents has been explored in recent years in order to provide therapeutic support for a number of health-related issues (Kaley-Isley et.al, 2010). In this context, it is important to identify the specific manner in which yoga benefits individuals in order to accomplish the desired treatment objectives within this population group (Kaley-Isley et.al, 2010). There are considerable advantages associated with yoga for adults; therefore, yoga in the younger population must be evaluated more closely as a means of developing individual healing and self-care in an effective manner that will provide children and adolescents with great benefits that are non-traditional in nature (Kaley-Isley et.al, 2010).

From a research-based perspective, yoga remains a relatively new concept in therapeutic intervention, in spite of its popularity as a mind-body support system for healthy individuals (Fischer-White and Taylor, 2013). Under these conditions, it is important to recognize that the benefits of yoga are not well understood in many research circles and that additional frameworks must be explored in order to capitalize on the substantial benefits of this practice (Fischer-White and Taylor, 2013). In many nursing practices, it is necessary to utilize other types of resources because many alternatives are dwindling in scope and funding, thereby increasing the need for alternative therapies (Fischer-White and Taylor, 2013). These perspectives are relevant because they demonstrate the importance of yoga as an effective form of therapy for many conditions, including musculoskeletal concerns that might otherwise lead to debilitating symptoms (Fischer-White and Taylor, 2013). The research efforts that are made in this area must continue to expand and to demonstrate that yoga is a legitimate form of therapy that may provide many patients with much-needed relief that does not require pharmacological interventions (Fischer-White and Taylor, 2013).

Yoga has been evaluated in a number of studies as a possible therapeutic intervention for chronic diseases, including hypertension (Hagins et.al, 2013). Therefore, it is important for nurses to address these findings in the context of their own practice methods so that alternative therapies are explored as feasible options to treat chronic illness (Hagins et.al, 2013). One study demonstrated that yoga had a significant impact on reducing blood pressure levels in a selected group of patients and provided significant value to this patient population through the use of key principles such as breathing and meditation (Hagins et.al, 2013). The challenge is to develop strategies to integrate this form of therapy into existing nursing practice methods so that patients might benefit from this form of therapy in a positive manner (Hagins et.al, 2013).

Finally, yoga therapy has been evaluated in patient who have suffered strokes and the results demonstrate that this alternative has a positive impact on patient care and wellbeing within this patient population (Lazaridou et.al, 2013). Under these circumstances, it is important to demonstrate that stroke patients using yoga demonstrated lower levels of stress and greater balance and mood (Lazaridou et.al, 2013). These conditions represent a starting point for the expansion of yoga practice methods for nurses so that their patients might potentially benefit from these conditions in a positive manner (Lazaridou et.al, 2013). However, the challenges of yoga therapy and lack of sufficient knowledge regarding its widespread benefits may lead to concerns for many nurses who might prefer therapies that have been deemed successful in other studies and in routine practice methods (Lazaridou et.al, 2013).

Conclusion

Yoga therapy continues to emerge as a viable opportunity to develop new strategies to assist patients from different age groups with a variety of conditions, including but not limited to stroke, hypertension, and musculoskeletal concerns. It is important for nurses to obtain additional insight and guidance regarding yoga therapies and to consider these alternatives as part of a larger treatment strategy. The efforts to transform yoga into a common therapeutic approach to disease is challenging; however, key studies have demonstrated its benefits and the lasting impact of this method on general health and wellbeing in healthy patients. There is no reason that this therapy could not be expanded in larger circles to accommodate patients who suffer from a wide variety of conditions and who might not want to accept the consequences of traditional pharmacological treatment methods.

References

Fischer-White, T.G., and Taylor, A.G. (2013). Yoga: perspectives on emerging research and scholarship. Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy, retrieved from http://www.omicsonline.org/yoga-perspectives-on-emerging-research-and-scholarship-2157-7595.1000e113.pdf

Hagins, M., States, R., Selfe, T., and Innes, K. (2013). Effectiveness of yoga for hypertension: systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, retrieved from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/649836/

Kaley-Isley, L.C., Peterson, J., and Peterson, E. (2010). Yoga as a complementary therapy for children and adolescents. Psychiatry (Edgemont), 7(8), 20-32.

Lazaridou, A., Philbrook, P., and Tzika, A.A. (2013). Yoga and mindfulness as therapeutic interventions for stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, retrieved from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/357108/