Chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is a very distressing condition. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute writes that COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive disease which makes it difficult to breathe. The leading cause of COPD is cigarette smoking. Air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust are also irritants which may also contribute to COPD. Reporting on using yoga to cope with this problem, MedPage Today wrote on Oct. 28, 2013, “Yoga May Be Good for COPD.”
ABC-of-yoga.com says that yoga is all about the union of a person’s own consciousness and a universal consciousness. Ancient Yogis adhered to a belief that in order for man to be in harmony with himself and
his environment, he must integrate the body, the mind, and the spirit. In order for these three to be integrated, emotion, action, and intelligence must be put in balance. The Yogis have formulated a way to achieve and maintain this balance via exercise, breathing, and meditation.
Researchers have said that with its focus on breathing exercises, yoga may improve many of the symptoms of
chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD), while also improving quality of life. In India a small study of patients found 12 weeks of twice weekly yoga classes was associated with improvements of several measurements of dyspnea and living quality. Randeep Guleria, MD, of All India Institute of Medical
Sciences in New Delhi, has said, “Yoga is a simple, cost-effective method that improves dyspnea and quality of life in COPD.”
Guleria has postulated that the benefits likely have something to do with yoga being a way of life, while meditation improves general spiritual well being. Furthermore, yoga focuses on breathing. This could effectively be looked upon as respiratory exercises which could help insofar as lung muscle function is concerned. And yoga has been found to be a very acceptable form of physical activity to many patients, in comparison with something more rigorous such as walking on a treadmill. Yoga clearly may have a lot to offer for COPD sufferers and may also benefit many other health conditions, while helping people who are not sick to maintain wellness.
MandelNews.com