Yoga, Asanas and Lifestyle Diseases
Yoga questions combine classical theory (Patanjali’s eight limbs) with applied prescription: which asana for which lifestyle disease, and with what precautions.
Lifestyle diseases
Conditions linked to inactivity, poor diet, stress, tobacco and alcohol: obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, back pain, arthritis, and stress-related disorders.
Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga
Yama (social restraints), Niyama (personal observances), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath regulation), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), Samadhi (absorption).
Asanas by condition
- Diabetes - Vakrasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Mandukasana, Paschimottanasana (twisting and forward-folding postures that the syllabus links to pancreatic stimulation).
- Obesity - Surya Namaskar, Halasana, Paschimottanasana, Dhanurasana.
- Hypertension - Shavasana, Sukhasana, Tadasana with slow breathing; avoid strenuous inversions.
- Asthma - Bhujangasana, Matsyasana, Ustrasana with pranayama.
- Back pain - Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Makarasana.
Rules and precautions
Practise on an empty stomach, preferably early morning, on a mat; no jerking or bouncing; breathe through the nose; move to the limit without pain; avoid inverted postures in hypertension, glaucoma and pregnancy, and twisting postures in recent abdominal surgery.
Worked example
A 52-year-old with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 31 asks for a routine. A full-mark answer combines the two problems: Surya Namaskar and Halasana for weight reduction, Vakrasana and Mandukasana for glycaemic control, plus slow pranayama and a dietary line. It also adds the contraindication - no inversions if hypertension is present - and advises medical clearance.
Traps
- Prescribing an asana with no reason for the choice.
- Omitting contraindications.
- Listing the eight limbs out of order or misspelling Samadhi.