People who are interested in the health benefits of yoga or how the therapeutic benefits of yoga help specific health problems will love Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing by Dr. Timothy McCall, internal medicine specialist and medical editor of Yoga Journal magazine. McCall has been focusing his practice on the therapeutic aspects of yoga.
The author combines eastern and western philosophies in discussing health and healing. The concepts in this book are useful for anyone interested in exploring the general health benefits of yoga, as well as people with specific health problems for which yoga has a therapeutic benefit.
The science regarding the health and therapeutic benefits of yoga are described in language that is easy to follow, even with no medical background. The first two sections of the book are devoted to yoga as medicine and information about beginning a yoga practice safely, including selecting a style and finding a teacher.
The third section is devoted to yoga therapy and has chapters on twenty health issues, such as asthma, MS, cancer, diabetes, depression and others. Each chapter includes a discussion of the condition, treatments using western medicine as well as a detailed description of how yoga benefits and what asanas and styles are best for that condition.
This section also includes a yoga routine designed for each of the 20 conditions covered in the book with input from prominent yoga instructors, which offers a variety of perspectives. Information is included on several styles of yoga, but Iyengar yoga is most prominent. In addition to yoga, meditation techniques are discussed and used for therapeutic benefit.
There are photographs and illustrations for each asana and information on the anatomy of the pose, modifications, props, benefits and contraindications and adaptations for certain health conditions.
This is the most comprehensive book I’ve seen on this topic from beginning to end. It is much more than a book of asanas. The appendix includes information on avoiding injury when beginning and progressing through your yoga practice. There is also information and resources for finding yoga therapists. It is a good addition to the library of any student or teacher.