Running Head: USING YOGA THERAPY TO PROMOTE WELLNESS

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Using Yoga Therapy to Promote Wellness

Data published by the Alabama Department of Public Health(ADPH) in 2014 show that

Alabama is of the leading state in both child and adult obesity. Alabama’s adult obesity rate at

36.2%, up from 22.6% in 2000 and from 11.2% in 1990. The increasing rates of obesity can be

directly linked to depression and lack of physical activity. Study shows that health inequities

between rural and urban areas in the US have been widening in the last decade. Evidently, most

of the health issues affecting the rural communities in Alabama are related to unhealthy

lifestyles. Nevertheless, there are several holistic treatment techniques that are used for

treatment. According to Lisica, Kobale, & Marić, (2015), yoga therapy is one of the most

effective holistic treatment techniques used for treating depression and mental health. This

technique uses yoga exercise which consists of posters known as asana.

This method is widely practiced in classes and involves, imagery, meditation, breath

work and relaxation with the aim of improving health (Fischer-White & Taylor, 2016). Study

shows that yoga has psychological and medical and has been proven effective in treating

depression and low back pains. The methods generally safe and healthy and aims at helping

patients to achieve optimal physical and mental health. However, there are several barriers

within a community that can hinder the implementation yoga as a holistic technique and

adversely impact the improvement of health behavior outcomes. Some of these obstacles include

social and cultural norms. For example, the Islamic culture banned Muslim women from

participating in yoga due to physical activities and attire needed for the exercise (Walton, Akram,

RDMS, BS, & Hossain, BBA, 2015) Additionally, this holistic method cannot be practiced by

physically disabled individuals. Lack of facilities to conduct yoga classes and high health

illiteracy levels can also hinder the execution of this strategy.

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In rural Alabama, there are several available resources that can facilitate the adoption of

yoga as an alternative treatment option. Social meeting points such as churches can be used for

yoga classes. Open grounds such as football pitches can also be used for body exercises such as

running and jogging. In addition, the availability of health promotion media such as magazines

and radio programs is imperative for health-promoting in rural Alabama. Notably, local

communities in these areas have taken collective initiatives to form support groups. The group

members are trained to help in promoting health literacy in the community through seminars held

in social gathering places such as churches. They also organize programs such as dancing

classes, community kitchen, and regular community events that bring individuals together. This

presents an opportunity for the groups to educate members and eliminate cultural beliefs that are

hindering the implementation of desired health programs.

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References

Fischer-White, T., & Taylor, A. G. (2016). Credentialing and Policy Update for Yoga Teachers

and Yoga Therapists: Implications for Yoga Research and Yoga Therapy

Research. Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy, 06(02). doi:10.4172/2157-

7595.1000e121

Lisica, I., Kobale, R., & Marić, J. (2015). Holistic approach to treatment of a patient with

Parkinson’s disease. NEURI 2015, 5th Student Congress of Neuroscience.

doi:10.17486/gyr.3.2227

Walton, L. M., Akram, RDMS, BS, F., & Hossain, BBA, F. (2015). Health Beliefs of Muslim

Women and Implications for Health Care Providers: Exploratory Study on the Health

Beliefs of Muslim Women. Online Journal of Health Ethics, 10.

doi:10.18785/ojhe.1002.05