Yoga Effects on Brain Health: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature
I think it's probably non-controversial that exercise (posing, stretching), and mindful activity (meditation, thoughtful breathing) are good for us. Certainly it's something I feel happy encouraging patients to do, particularly if they enjoy it or feel that it benifits then.<p>What I find thought-provoking though is the use of the phase "health approach" in the first line of the abstract:<p>> Yoga is the most popular complementary health approach practiced by adults in the United States.<p>I wonder what exactly qualifies as a "health approach". The paper acknowledges exercise is well know to be good for people, particularly in ageing - so it's heathy, but is exercise an "approach"? What about reading, or caring for young children (both also good for your health) can that be a "health approach"?<p>I usually try to talk about these practices as being part of a heathy lifestyle, rather than being therapies. I feel that we're over-medicalising when we start to say that riding a bicycle or hugging our friends are therapies, rather than just being healthy.