Cynthia Mathis, left, conducting a yoga class for people with osteoporosis at a church in Westfield, N.J.
New York Times – December 15, 2005
By CAROL E. LEE. JACK WATERS credits yoga with saving his life four years ago. … He needed to get to a hospital, but first he wanted to do a yoga pose. …
Congratulations to Cynthia Mathis, James Murphy, Jo Sgammato, and Jackie Herbach – all New York area teachers who contributed to this article.
I appreciate your sharing and posting this fine article. But I wouldn’t be so quick to concede the statement that Yoga “does not cure or treat disease.”
The Dean Ornish comprehensive lifestyle change program (which is quite influenced by Yoga and is much more than asana practice) is well known, I believe, for reversing heart disease. See, http://www.pmri.org
May I quote the well regarded Kenneth R. Pelletier in his book, The Best Alternative Medicine “Yoga has proven beneficial in treating a variety of medical conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, breathing problems, asthma, musculoskeletal problems, stress-related illness and mood disorder.” Pg. 246.
May I also recommend reviewing the NCCAM and CRISP website databases to see current clinical trials on Yoga for various health conditions.
Last but not least, I can, of course, recommend our own International Journal of Yoga Therapy, to follow current research and practice in this field. For example, you can read Kausthub’s moving story on his student’s recovery from a severe stroke with patient Yoga practice over two years in the current issue of the journal, starting with only breathing and visualization.
John Kepner
International Association of Yoga Therapists