Hatha yoga was developed, in part, to create good health so that people could progress along a spiritual path, says John Schumacher, director of Unity Woods Yoga Center, which has four locations in the Washington area. Maybe not broken bones, but it can help the healing process once the bone has been set. The most common ailments that bring people to his center, he says, are back problems, respiratory disorders and autoimmune conditions such as lupus and fibromyalgia. He advises prospective students with health problems to consult their physicians first. It's not a matter of just going once a week to class.
Yoga is a tool patients can use to empower themselves.
People with less severe ailments or those who want general health benefits are encouraged to shop around for a yoga class and an experienced teacher whose personality and approach suits their needs. Some yoga devotees express concern about the new popularity of yoga therapy. We're trying to Band-Aid it onto Western medicine, and it's not a 100 percent fit. Yoga ignites the innate awareness of the human body, mind and soul. News Jobs AP Shopping Archives Entertain.