title: Prescribing yoga.
abstract: More than 15.8 million people in the United States now practice some form of yoga, and nearly half of current practitioners stated they began yoga practice as a means of improving overall health. More broadly understood in a modern context, yoga is a set of principles and practices designed to promote health and well-being through the integration of body, breath, and mind. This article outlines the history of yoga and describes several forms, including asana-based yoga, which is becoming popular in the United States. Research findings related to use of yoga as a therapy for various health problems are reviewed. Guidelines for finding a yoga teacher are offered, as are a number of book and Internet sources of further information.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA. hayesm@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Meg
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chase
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D015013:Yoga