Dahn Yoga Chicago > Yoga News

Yoga News

Yoga News — No Comments
29
Jul 11

Ki energy healing may mute chronic pain

Chronic pain is a widespread affliction, one with many potential causes and few effective long-term treatments. However, researchers from Canada believe that yoga, meditation and ki energy healing may help individuals overcome the worst symptoms of this debilitating condition.

The American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) estimates that 75 million Americans have chronic aches and pains, two-thirds of whom suffer distress caused by diseases, physical disorders or traumatic accidents.

The AAPM also reports that in one year, at least 36 million adults reported missing work due to pain.

What can be done about it? Drugs, be they analgesics or more powerful prescription medications, may certainly moderate one's pain levels, but many healthcare professionals warn that these substances can lead to tolerance or even dependence.

By contrast, holistic and alternative methods rely less on chemicals than on harnessing the natural power of one's body. This force, called "ki" by Dahn Yoga students, pervades the body and connects the physical self to the psyche.

In a new study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, scientists from the University of Alberta and Dalhousie University in Halifax strove to see whether yoga-based interventions can reduce chronic pain. They asked participants to try an eight-week yoga course, which included both group therapy and individualized, at-home exercises.

Researchers found that volunteers reported experiencing several benefits from this system. Some individuals said that they felt fewer aches, or that their perceived pain level had dropped somewhat. Others stated that their physical distress remained the same but that their tolerance for pain had increased a bit.

The team concluded that yoga, meditation and ki energy-related techniques may help individuals with chronic pain reduce their condition to manageable proportions.

It is critical that pain management methods be long-term. More than two-thirds of Americans with chronic pain have suffered from near-constant discomfort for more than five years, according to the AAPM. 

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
18
Jul 11

Yoga, ki energy manipulation may reduce symptoms of menopause

Sure, there are plenty of prenatal yoga classes available for expectant mothers, but what about women going through menopause? This drop-off in hormone production can be as drastic or life-changing as having a child, and many women find it difficult to cope with the symptoms of this important transition. Fortunately, several studies have indicated that yoga, meditation and ki energy manipulation may ease the discomforts associated with menopause.

For example, a report appearing in the journal Support Care Cancer found that eight weeks of regular yoga therapy helped women going through menopause – all of whom had survived breast cancer and were otherwise healthy at the time of the study – to mute the severity of their hot flashes.

Likewise, participants who engaged in meditation, deep breathing, stretching and ki energy exercises tended to report greater improvements in joint aches, exhaustion, sleep disturbances and "symptom-related bother," the authors said.

The team concluded that doing yoga may help mature women cope with the symptoms of menopause, particularly when their hormone levels and physical health have been previously altered by intensive cancer treatments.

A meta-study, published in the same year as the paper above, also examined the effects of yoga on the transition into one's non-reproductive years. Published in the journal Menopause, the report analyzed the outcomes of prior investigations into the effectiveness of holistic health regimens among women typically aged 50 or older.

Researchers found a total of seven pre-existing studies concerning yoga and menopause. Unfortunately, many of the included studies were non-randomized or came to statistically insignificant conclusions, which the authors said suggested the need for further inquiry into yoga's effects during a time of sharp hormonal fluctuation.

More than 2 million American females reach menopause every year, meaning that at least 5,600 women begin going through this transition every day, according to the North American Menopause Society.

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
15
Jul 11

Yoga may help schizophrenics improve health and wellness

Individuals who are wondering how to improve health while staying positive and peaceful may need look no further than a weekly yoga class at one of the many Dahn Yoga community centers nationwide. One of the remarkable things about such a flexible holistic system is that it can offer physical and mental benefits to people of nearly all stripes.

Consider a recent study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, in which researchers determined that patients with schizophrenia may benefit from taking guided yoga and meditation sessions.

The authors, mental health experts Elizabeth Visceglia and Stephen Lewis, stated that one of the reasons yoga may improve health and wellness for such people is that the regimen eschews the pharmacological in favor of the physical.

In essence, treatment for the mental illness has become overly reliant on prescriptions, which the duo said can lead to "polypharmacy," or the use of multiple medications to treat the symptoms of the illness, the duo said.

They noted that yoga appears to be an effective supplement to typical treatment precisely because it uses the body's own energy for the pursuit of wellness.

For the study, the authors asked 18 individuals with the illness to take eight weeks of regular yoga classes. Researchers found that these participants tended to see reductions in the symptoms of the disease, including in depression, paranoia and hostility.

An article in Yoga Magazine noted that the regimen offers a wealth of benefits not just to people struggling with schizophrenia, but to folks from all walks of life.

Yoga is about energy and positivity. The magazine said that, in this respect, doing stretches, poses and deep breathing exercises can help individuals reduce their stress levels, something that people with the mental condition often need.

Likewise, yoga classes can foster a sense of community while providing plenty of personal benefits, both physical and spiritual.

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
7
Jul 11

Yoga helps heart failure patients with stress management

Engaging in yoga is something that nearly anyone can do, no matter what their state of health. In fact, individuals who are ill may reap some of the most tangible benefits from the holistic system. For instance, a recent report suggested that yoga may improve the wellness of people suffering from heart failure.

A study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that African-American patients with congestive heart failure experienced physical improvements after taking several weeks' worth of yoga sessions.

Researchers addressed the regimen's effect on flexibility, quality of life and inflammatory molecular markers. Compared to individuals who were not given yoga-based interventions, patients who regularly stretched, posed and breathed deeply saw improvements in all of the above measures.

The team concluded that engaging in yoga may help individuals with heart failure cope with their disease and improve their stress management skills.

Heart failure occurs when the cardiac muscle cannot pump enough blood through the body, which is often due to congested arteries. An estimated 5.7 million Americans have heart failure in a given year, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
7
Jul 11

Financial guru also practices breathing exercises, yoga

At the age of 47, Morgan Stanley employee Peter Muller is one of the most respected quantitative analysts in the U.S. He also plays the piano, creates crossword puzzles for the New York Times and, according to Bloomberg Markets Magazine (BMM), he practices yoga.

Muller, a financial legend and father of two, rose to prominence in 2006 after creating the Process Driven Trading group for his financial services firm. However, that was only after he'd returned to the trading giant.

In 2001, Muller left Morgan Stanley because he could "no longer find happiness in the corporate world," according to StrataSearch. The financial analysis website noted that the jack-of-all-trades seemed to need a little breathing room.

BMM noted that many tokens of Muller's time by himself are all around him. He wears a silver Native American amulet around his neck. He engages in yoga. He also does deep breathing exercises in order to synchronize his respiration and relax his mind, the magazine said.

Individuals who wish to unlock their full potential, get away from it all or simply rest easy may consider trying Dahn Yoga at one of its many community centers.

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
6
Jul 11

Doing yoga, meditation alone may beat swearing in the battle against the blues

When life gets you down, it can be tempting or even irresistible to swear. Oaths may feel cathartic, and a recent study even suggested that cursing around others may be associated with a lower risk of depression. However, the benefits of yoga may be greater still.

Research published in the journal Health Psychology found that women with chronic illnesses appear to be less prone to depression if they tend to swear around their friends. The paper is based on two studies, one of individuals with arthritis and the other of women with breast cancer.

Scientists used unobtrusive, wearable recording devices to determine participants' levels of cursing throughout the day. The team found that women who swear around others tend to display fewer symptoms of depression.

However, researchers also noted that those who swore while alone did not experience this effect. Furthermore, they theorized that cursing around others may repel others' attempts to emotionally connect.

On the other hand, yoga can be done alone or in groups without fear that connections will not be made. Numerous studies have suggested that yoga can reduce the severity of depression while keeping the body strong and healthy.

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
5
Jul 11

Indian actress will become yoga teacher, too

The perks of being an A-list actress must be many, but apparently some of these stars simply can't do without yoga, no matter which continent they are from. January Jones and Tori Spelling have been doing lots of yoga lately, and now Indian actress Mallika Sherawat has jumped on the peaceful bandwagon.

According to Zee News, the former model plans to become a "fitness guru," similar to fellow Bollywood stars Lara Dutta and Bipasha Basu, both of whom have released yoga-based health and exercise DVDs.

However, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) notes that Sherawat previously declared a desire to stay unique, compared to her yoga-loving compatriots.

"I have always looked up to Bipasha and she has certainly opened a lot of doors for many actresses like us. But I don't want to compete against anyone. I think I am one of a kind," she is quoted as saying by IMDB.

Since Lara and Bipasha are known for DVDs that are based more on strenuous exercise than relaxation, Sherawat might do well to look to more pacific videos for inspiration, like Dahn Yoga DVDs.

These discs promote health and wellness without putting viewers through a strenuous workout.

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
29
Jun 11

Even in recession, yoga DVDs sell like hotcakes

Many industries and products are suffering from the effects of the U.S. economic downturn, but fitness DVDs do not appear to be one of them. According to Reuters Life!, three of the 10 best-selling DVDs of the past decade have been discs on yoga.

Little wonder, then, that Dahn Yoga DVDs sell so well. Kajsa Vikman, the vice president of marketing and fitness at the Lionsgate production company, pointed the news source toward her aging customers.

"The audience of baby boomers and up is 99 million people, and they're interested in DVDs," Vikman told the source.

Anchor Bay Entertainment's Julie Cartwright added that yoga DVDs offer both a fitness regimen and a way to relax in a world wired for stress.

"Consumers are writing about how it calms them, helps them sleep better… This is a trend I don't ever remember seeing before in our industry," she told the news organization.

Currently, BEST Life Media offers DVDs like "Dahn Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis and Similar Conditions," "DahnMuDo: The Art of Self Mastery with Owoon" and "Dahn Yoga Essentials," all of which have received numerous positive reviews. 

Related items

Yoga News — No Comments
29
Jun 11

Many men with prostate cancer turn to yoga

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is something that one in six men will experience at some point in his lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. Because of this disease's deleterious effects on a man's health, happiness and quality of life, researchers are looking into yoga's ability to facilitate patient's mental self healing.

Scientists from the Department of Psychosocial Resources at Canada's Tom Baker Cancer Center recently conducted a study to determine the ways in which holistic mindfulness systems affect men recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, as well as women with breast tumors.

After taking subjective surveys and giving blood samples, the participants displayed marked improvements in mood, quality of life, stress levels and sleep quality subsequent to an eight-week course of meditation, gentle yoga and relaxation exercises.

The team wrote in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine that such mind-body therapies may help people with cancer learn to live with their disease and better endure the medical treatments they undergo.

Another study published in the Journal of Urology noted that intensive lifestyle changes appeared to slow the progression of prostate cancer in men with the disease.

Related items

Yoga News — 1 Comment
28
Jun 11

Women with arthritis may use yoga to get more rest

Having arthritis can entail debilitating and near-constant joint pain, a physical state that is rarely conducive to a good night's sleep. While medication and traditional treatments may help, researchers have lately looked into the ability of yoga to improve sleep patterns among women with osteoarthritis.

A study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that arthritic women who took once-weekly yoga classes, followed by self-administered nightly sessions, appeared to sleep slightly longer than those who did not.

The improvements were minor but promising, the team said, adding that further research is merited into the effects of yoga on sleep among individuals with joint problems.

Studies have shown that people with arthritis suffer from more sleep disturbances than those who do not have the disease. According to a study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, 23 percent of Americans with arthritis suffer from sleep troubles, compared to 16 percent of their peers.

By taking yoga or tai chi classes, individuals with chronic pain and range-of-motion troubles may ease their aches and potentially fall into slumber faster and stay asleep longer.

Related items

← Older Entries