Meet Giacomo
Meet Giacomo, my Italian neighbour. Giacomo enjoys gardening, making his own wine, cooking for himself and has recently undergone triple bypass heart surgery and is recovering fabulously. He has just celebrated his 92nd birthday.
Going Rogue
Another naturopathic exam session has come and gone. The end of our last midterm week tucked an uncomfortable 49 exams (in less than two years) under our already stuffed belts. Despite the over-stuffing of knowledge (taxing our Spleens, according to TCM, which is the equivalent of overeating at a buffet), I can’t help but feel empty at the end of these week-long ordeals.
Gone Fishing: The Benefits of Fish Oils
My Italian grandmother (“La Nonna”) remembers a time when, during World War II in rural Italy, she and her sister were given a daily supplement of cod liver oil, as part of a public health campaign under Mussolini’s government.
Yoga and Mental Health
In North America, 10% of adults are currently taking an anti-depressant. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada estimates that 1 in 5 adults fall under the diagnostic criteria for mild to moderate depression.
While the number of people with severe depression has remained the same, the amount of people diagnosed with moderate depression has increased significantly.
The diagnostic criteria for depression is broad, containing symptoms such as decreased or increased appetite, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, fatigue and low self-esteem. Considering our often stressful, inactive lifestyle, it’s no wonder that 20% of North American adults have the potential to be diagnosed with depression!
The most common conventional medical treatment for depression are anti-depressants, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Cipramil or Seropram. According to one of my professors, these are “life-changing drugs” that bring with them a plethora of negative side effects. These side effects include sleeping problems, nausea, reduced sexual desire, weight gain and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Fortunately for patients experiencing depression, there are more options than simply going on anti-depressant medication. Naturopathic doctors offer a large selection of therapies in the form of supplements, botanical tinctures, acupuncture and diet and lifestyle modifications to help improve mood, most of them offering little to no negative side effects.
Although “yoga therapy” is not necessarily a naturopathic healing modality, it does fit into the category of lifestyle counseling, which involves psycho-education and lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise.
In a Meta Analysis – a large study that compiles a number of well-conducted studies and is termed The “Gold Standard” of Evidenced Based Medicine – performed by the California State University Department of Psychiatry, researchers examined 10 studies looking at the effects of regular yoga practice on major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The study found that yoga is not only a wonderful form of exercise, but an effective therapy to be used alongside other treatments for patients with major psychiatric illness.
Here is the abstract from the study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22132353
In addition to its therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders, yoga also offers profound insights into spirituality, which can further enhance its holistic approach to healing. The practice of yoga encompasses not only physical postures but also breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness techniques, all of which contribute to a deeper connection with oneself and the world around them. Through regular practice, individuals often report experiencing a heightened sense of awareness, inner peace, and spiritual awakening.
Furthermore, yoga philosophy teaches principles that align with spiritual wisdom from various traditions, emphasizing concepts such as interconnectedness, compassion, and self-realization. Websites like https://www.yogavandaag.com/spiritualiteit/ offer valuable resources on spirituality within yoga, guiding practitioners on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. By integrating these spiritual insights into their practice, individuals can cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfillment, transcending the limitations of the mind and connecting with their higher selves. Ultimately, yoga serves not only as a therapeutic tool for mental health but also as a pathway to spiritual growth and profound transformation.
Yoga professionals recommend practicing for one hour, three times a week, in order to reap all the physical, mental and emotional benefits. While attending regular yoga classes at a studio can be costly, you can now follow yoga classes from the comfort of your own home (in your pajamas!) with this excellent website:
I’ve seen my yogi skills and fitness levels greatly improve after becoming a member of My Yoga Online in 2009. The site is based out of a Vancouver yoga studio and features local teachers, filmed live classes and commerical yoga videos. By signing up, you are granted unlimited access to these videos. One of my favourite teachers on the site is Clara Roberts-Oss. I recommend signing up for a month (it costs $12!) and trying a few of her flows. If you’re new to yoga, you can start by clicking on the beginner button.
If you prefer in-studio classes, a colleague of mine started this website, which features weekly deals on yoga classes in Toronto, Montreal and New York:
I highly recommend trying each of these websites and experiencing the mental benefits of yoga for yourself!