Yoga as CAM

As a mind body therapy and in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), yoga has unlimited benefits. In addition to strengthening the body, yoga calms the central nervous system, improves lymphatic and bowel function, and strengthens the immune system. It creates balance between our physical, emotional and spiritual parts, and guides us to come closer to our intuitive nature. It looks beyond the limitations of conventional medicine and recognizes the wide range of factors that affect well-being.

Rapidly gaining popularity, yoga is hardly a new practice, but appears to be misunderstood and therefore avoided by those who dismiss it for one or more reasons. Common misperceptions aret that:
Yoga is a religion.
Yoga is only for flexible individuals.
Yoga is for crunchy people.
Yoga is too slow.
Yoga requires the ability to sit for long periods in meditation.


While yoga has its roots in ancient India, it has no religious affiliation. Without doubt there is a spiritual component to yoga, but this emerges as one learns to quiet the mind through the meditative nature of the yoga practice.

Those with limited flexibility often experience the most benefit and make greater progress than those with unlimited flexibility. An over flexible body can have a tendency to be less mindful in the practice, ultimately negatively affecting the effort/surrender mechanism that sustains a balanced practice.

You do not need to be a crunchy person to practice yoga. Indeed even a male truck driver can become avid yogi and beloved teacher.

There are many different styles of yoga, some more serene than others. This allows for all types of personalities to participate in the form of yoga that best suits them. Manystudents initially gravitate to certain style of yoga and explore other types as they become more confident.

Meditation comes as a natural benefit of a regular yoga practice. As the body becomes more open and less restricted through the physical aspect, or asana, the mind also expands to create more spaciousness for experiencing our true nature, free of constricted, repetitive messages that block us from seeing who we truly are.

Yoga can be the starting point for exploring CAM. With deeper understanding of its comprehensive benefits, and an open and informed mind, the regular practice of yoga will lead you on your way to a healthy, vibrant life.