Yoga

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated thousands of years ago in Asia. Yoga practices can facilitate the development and integration of the human mind and body; these techniques can have structural, physiological and psychological effects. The goals of yoga are to develop: 1) a strong and flexible body free of pain; 2) a balanced autonomic nervous system with all physiological systems functioning optimally; and 3) a calm, clear, and tranquil mind. (Kaley-Isley LC, Peterson J, Fischer C, Peterson E. Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Clinicians. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010;7(8):20-32.))

Apps/Podcasts/On the Web:

• Yoga Journal www.yogajournal.com
  • Monthly publication for yoga practitioners and instructors. It contains extensive information about specific poses, places to practice, the history and philosophy of yoga, and links to many additional resources.
• Yoga Download www.yogadownload.com
  • Offers subscription services (frequently discounted at sites like groupon.com) but also provides dozens of free podcasts with a variety of styles and intensity that can be searched for easily.
• Yoga for Arthritis: http://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/patient-corner/disease-management/yoga-for-arthritis/#whatis
  • Comprehensive and specific information about the use of yoga for arthritis but also provides excellent background into yoga and breaks down the components of yoga.
• 30 Days of Yoga Challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBu-pQG6sTY: Overall, an emphasis on stretching, and just getting in tune with how your body feels. Encourages you to work to what feels right for you. Video lengths range from 15-35 minutes

FREE YOGA

• Yoga with Adriene: https://yogawithadriene.com/
• Yoga.com Studio provides Android and iOS yoga practitioners with a wealth of programs and poses designed for all skill levels. Preset programs and poses within the library come with HD video demonstrations, and users can add their own poses and variants, as well as their own custom programs. Additionally, the app comes with its own social community where you can share or search for custom programs, and scheduling features to track your workouts on a calendar.
• Daily Yoga provides users with a library of more than 50 yoga classes and 400-plus workout poses, complete with HD video and background music. Seven yoga plans are available for beginners with a variety of exercise focuses, as well as a variety of intensities and durations. For more advanced modules and poses though, you’ll need to subscribe to the app.
• $0.99 5 Minute Yoga is an iOS yoga app that provides more than 350 short but effective yoga sessions all designed to be done in 5 minutes or less. Sessions are created from a library of illustrated poses with detailed instructions, along with a timer to ensure that poses are done for the proper amount of time. Additionally, users can also select music from their library to play for each session.