Yoga and Other Movement Therapies
Movement therapies employ structured exercise regimens and mental discipline to achieve both physical and emotional health. They range from the gentle approaches of yoga and t'ai chi to the more vigorous movements of aerobics and martial arts such as karate. They also include physical therapy.
Yoga emphasizes meditation, deep breathing, and prescribed body positions and movements. The martial arts incorporate meditation and structured movement as well, but the emphasis is more on self-control and self-defense. Despite the military aspects of these disciplines, they are rooted in nonviolence, with the goal of achieving mental and physical health. Aerobic conditioning has the additional aim of improving cardiovascular function, and physical therapy seeks to prevent or treat musculoskeletal problems.
Origins
Movement therapies trace their roots to ancient Eastern philosophy and practice. The term yoga, for example, comes from the Sanskrit word yuga meaning "to yoke" or "to join." Yoga practitioners, or yogis, believe that they can achieve cosmic union through movement and meditation.
Some people theorize that martial arts evolved from ancient dance rituals and meditative practices. Another theory, based on legend, holds that they began with Bodhidarma, the Buddhist monk who founded Zen Buddhism. According to this story, he taught young monks and was dismayed by their physical weakness, which he attributed to inactivity, so Bodhidarma developed ritualistic exercises to help increase their strength and stamina.
Practitioners
Yoga is taught in this country by physical therapists, physiatrists (specialists in physical rehabilitation), psychologists, and dance instructors, as well as by yogis and some of their advanced students. Many yogis are interested in transmitting all aspects of their way of life, including, often, pacifism and vegetarianism, through which they believe a spiritual unity with the cosmos can be achieved.
Martial arts are being taught mostly as a means of self-defense and building strength and coordination, but some instructors also emphasize meditation and spiritualism.
When It Is Used
Movement therapy is used to increase strength, counter stress, and control pain; devotees are all ages and come from every walk of life. Certain movements have been found effective in rehabilitation programs for victims of stroke or injury, and some yoga exercises have been adapted for the elderly and infirm so that they can be done in bed or in a wheelchair. A number of psychotherapists have their patients learn yoga or t'ai chi to lessen anxiety and reduce panic attacks. Judo is sometimes recommended to help an overly shy child gain confidence and self-esteem.
Dancers and other performance artists use yoga and other movement therapies to overcome muscle tension and to limber up their bodies before rehearsals and performances. Dr. Dean Ornish, a California cardiologist, incorporates yoga in his innovative regimen for heart patients. At the Commonweal Cancer Help Program and research center in California, terminally ill cancer patients are taught yoga as a means of achieving serenity. The National Institute on Aging has been studying t'ai chi as an alternative therapy to help the elderly increase their fitness and mobility.
How It Works
As currently practiced in the United States, yoga, t'ai chi, and; other movement therapies are viewed as a means of achieving mind/body harmony as well as physical strength. Performed regularly, they can help reverse the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle, promote musculoskeletal strengthening of the body, and increase the suppleness of the spine. People who practice yoga or t'ai chi often describe a feeling of energy flowing through them. The breathing exercises of these therapies stimulate circulation while relaxing the body and mind. They also increase the capacity for focused concentration, and are often combined with meditation.
What to Expect
Following is a more detailed description of what you can expect in a yoga or martial arts class.
Yoga. Instruction may take place one-on-one or in an organized class. Participants wear any attire that allows for freedom of movement. In general, shoes are not worn. During a typical beginning session, the instructor leads the class in a series of breathing exercises to warm up. A routine of stretches/ bends, and other movements follows. The pace is usually relaxed and the movements flowing. Throughout the session, strong mental focus and deep abdominal breathing help participants maintain specific postures as long as possible.
T'ai Chi. Instruction is usually given in a class, although some students opt for private sessions. Clothing that allows complete freedom of movement is appropriate, and comfortable, lightweight shoes may be wom. Serious t'ai chi practitioners perform their routines daily. They execute the movements in a continuous, consistent, and somewhat slow rhythm. During the routine, all mental energy is focused on t'ai chi. The goals are to attain a mental slate of complete calm and concentration, and to improve the technique continuously, thereby achieving bot physical and emotional fitness.