The Role of Yoga in Addressing Chronic Diseases: A Path to Wellness

​Chronic diseases across the United States are continuing to rise in all populations and demographics. According to the CDC, an estimated 129 million people in the U.S. have at least one major chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, or hypertension as defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services (2024). This alarming statistic has led many states and local governments to develop strategic plans in addressing health disparities and improving healthcare delivery (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). As a national issue, it has also been the target of many studies looking to develop a solution or guidelines in addressing chronic diseases, one of which being integrative wellness modalities such as yoga. In this paper I will explore the practice of yoga and its impact on healing the body to address chronic diseases such as hypertension and chronic pain.  

​Yoga is an ancient health system that originated in the East over 5,000 years ago. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means to unite or integrate. The ultimate aim of yoga is to form a balance between mind and body and attain self-enlightenment. To achieve this, yoga uses movement, breath (pranayama), postures (asana), relaxation and meditation to establish a healthy, lively, and balanced approach to life. Within the practice there are several paths to optimize individual well-being on physical, mental, and spiritual levels to include: Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, Tantra, Raja, and Hatha. According to my guru, Dana Smith of Spiritual Essence Yoga, for a person to be in harmony with themselves, the mind, body, and spirit must be integrated and synched. The six paths of yoga help ensure that, specifically the two most common paths – Hatha and Raja. The path of Hatha focuses on the physical postures of yoga with the goal of finding balance with the mind. It is the preparatory stage of physical purification to enable the body to be fit for the practice of higher meditation, or Raja. The path of Raja incorporates all of the teachings in each path of yoga. “Raja Yoga concerns itself with three dimensions or realms: the physical, the mental and the spiritual. Through practicing Raja Yoga methods, one achieves mastery of all three realms and is thus led to the full realization of the Self” (Desikachar, 1995.). Ultimately, the goal of a successful yoga practice is for both Hatha and Raja Yoga to be inter-related and dependent upon each other. This inter-dependence is what gives a person self-awareness, introspection and understanding to make more conscious decisions about their lives and ultimately their health. According to yoga guru John Friend, there are three aspects to the transformation many people experience when they practice yoga: attitude, alignment, and action (2010). His belief is that once a person begins to practice this modality their whole view on life, the way that they’re approaching and relating to life, will radically shift.  

​Problem Statement 

​Exploring the correlation between yoga and chronic disease must begin with the true purpose and intended outcomes of yoga. The onset of chronic disease is often associated with individuals who are not motivated or lack knowledge and education to make conscious decisions about their health. According to Lee DC et al., 74% of the US population, or 2 billion people worldwide, are either overweight or obese (2023). The root cause can be associated with many factors; however, the diseases still remain and require treatment. This paper examines the efficacy of yoga for treating chronic diseases through introspection and self-awareness.  

​Discussion 

​I chose to explore this topic because I personally believe people can positively impact their health through conscious decision-making, and yoga aides in that. Yoga is an integrative practice that helps individuals explore and address every aspect of their lives. “It concerns itself with the practical aspects not of reversing this evolution but instead of bringing about an involution: how mankind can be led by an inner path from manifest body and mind to Ultimate Consciousness” (The Meditation Center, n.d.). Through this consciousness, people will eat healthier to prevent obesity and diabetes, properly breathe preventing airway restrictions which cause asthma and COPD and incorporate physical exercise to increase blood flow and circulation. In a study of sixty patients, aged 18 to 55 and diagnosed with asthma and COPD, Ozer et al. found that regular yoga sessions increase the strength and endurance of respiratory muscles by working the lung at maximum capacity during inspiration and expiration (2021). The study explored if an 8-week yoga program can be used to improve respiratory functions and overall quality of life for individuals diagnosed with asthma and COPD. Throughout the 8-week program, participants attended yoga sessions twice a week for 8 weeks, a total of 16 sessions each lasting one hour. The premise of the study was based on reported studies that regular yoga practices stretch the spine, strengthen the muscles, relieve fatigue, regulate sleep, remove drug toxins to increase the oxygenation of the brain, increase awareness, self-orientation and self-recognition, provide a positive perspective and reduce stress. According to Ozer et al., yoga is effective in strengthening the respiratory muscles, increasing the capacity of the lungs and relieving shortness of breath and providing breath control (2021). All of which aid in preventing airway restrictions associated with an increased chronic inflammatory response. In another study focused on yoga and chronic pain, Hall et al., found that participants demonstrated a decrease in pain interference and respondents with a pain interference rating of severe decreased by 15.4%. The study monitored 21 people with chronic pain over an 8-week period practicing yoga twice a week. According to Hall, yoga uses interoception by attending to bodily sensations and regulating breath patterns, thoughts, muscle tension, emotions, and physical posture to help reduce fear around pain and movement (2024). This has a direct impact on individual belief and reaffirms the core concept of yoga, discussed in the introduction, focused on introspection and self-awareness. Hall et al., also stated that as people learn they can impact their pain through a biopsychosocial lens, ultimately leading the person feeling more empowered and likely to continue in this method of self-care (2024). This concept was validated through the conclusion of this study which found 25% of participants continued with a regular yoga practice three months post study.  

​The topic of yoga is not only something I study, but it’s also my profession. My wife began practicing yoga over 13 years ago which allowed me to see firsthand the physiological benefits of the practice. Prior to owning a yoga studio, my wife and I both had high impact jobs. She worked in higher education in both faculty and staff, and I worked in Finance. As a means of relieving stress, I would go to the gym, and she would practice yoga. However, as we both progressed in our careers, I noticed that my post-work stress increased and hers did not. Eventually she began introducing me to Raja yoga techniques and took me to my first Bikram yoga class at one of the first studios in the US. I would later develop a more consistent yoga practice and in 2019 we opened our first studio. Over the last five years, my wife and I have introduced yoga to thousands of black and brown people in the Washington D.C area. I have seen firsthand how yoga has improved the quality of life for so many of our studio members, to include reducing stress and anxiety, reduction in chronic pain, increased breathing capacity, weight reduction, and most importantly maintaining physical activity after years of inactivity. The fitness and wellness industries are incredibly difficult to succeed in, however as we approach our five-year anniversary next month, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished.    

​Conclusion 

​As chronic diseases continue to rise in the United States, alternative methods of treatment need to be explored. In almost every study I read and referenced, there was a caveat of yoga not being studied enough. I do believe many healthcare professionals are starting to see the benefit of wellness and its physical impact, which will help close that gap, however more research has to occur. As a studio owner, I have had the opportunity to train many healthcare professionals looking to integrate alternative care into their practice. This integration will hopefully continue the conversation and spark new research in the subject. I too hope to add to the field with my research on the subject throughout this program and in practice.  

References 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Preventing Chronic Disease: June 2024: 23_0267. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/23_0267.htm  

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical activity guidelines for Americans (2nd ed.). https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019 09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf   

Desikachar, T. K. V. (1995). The heart of yoga: Developing a personal practice. Inner Traditions International.  

Verywell Fit. (n.d.). What Is Hatha Yoga? Retrieved from https://www.verywellfit.com/what-is-hatha-yoga-3566884 

Friend, J. (n.d.). The Radical Quantum Shift of Yoga. YogaUOnline. Retrieved from https://yogauonline.com/yoga-practice-teaching-tips/yoga-teaching/john-friend-the-radical-quantum-shift-of-yoga/ 

Lee DC, Lee IM. Optimum Dose of Resistance Exercise for Cardiovascular Health and Longevity: Is More Better? Curr Cardiol Rep. 2023 Nov;25(11):1573-1580. doi: 10.1007/s11886-023-01976-6. Epub 2023 Oct 14. PMID: 37837559. 

The Meditation Center. (n.d.). Introduction to Raja Yoga. Retrieved from https://themeditationcenter.org/introduction-to-raja-yoga/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CRaja%20Yoga%20encompasses%20the%20teachings,full%20realization%20of%20the%20Self. 

Özer Z, Bahçecioğlu Turan G, Aksoy M. The effects of yoga on dyspnea, sleep and fatigue in chronic respiratory diseases. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 May;43:101306. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101306. Epub 2021 Jan 19. PMID: 33545575. 

Hall S, O'Keefe LR, Janssen MK, Herrmann AA, Hanson LR. Implementation of a Clinic-Based Yoga Program for Chronic Pain. Pain Manag Nurs. 2024 Jun;25(3):258-264. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2024.01.002. Epub 2024 Mar 7. PMID: 38458849.