Knowledge of yoga and its application in psychiatry

• Main Author: Manan Kirankumar Desai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: Annals of Indian Psychiatry
• Subjects: mental health; psychiatry; yoga
• Online Access: http://www.anip.co.in/article.asp?issn=2588-8358;year=2020;volume=4;issue=1;spage=105;epage=107;aulast=Desai

Since ancient times, yoga has been conceived as plural in its composition, meanings, and practices with singularity in its objective to promote mind–body fitness. In contemporary times, hatha yoga (physical yoga) is getting further diversified into different styles. Deeper understanding of these forms of yoga reveals that certain components including ethical and moral principles, posture (asana), breathe regulation (pranayam), chanting particular sounds (mantra), introspection (pratyahar), contemplation (dharana), and meditation (dhyan) are common among these. First, yoga can induce harmony in mind–body functioning. Second, being experientially rooted, it can be adopted considerably with much ease in comparison to the existing psychological practices. Third, it has promising potential to address the mental health concerns of the people because training and taking the service of yoga is cost-effective. Fourth, it can also alleviate multiple physical, emotional, and social sufferings holistically. Gradually, demand for personalized, eclectic, and intuitive therapeutic approaches is on rise for psychiatric disorders and mental well-being.