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An Introduction to Yoga

Summary & Participants

Have you peeked into a room at your gym lately and seen people stretching, breathing deeply or just sitting in silence? They're probably doing yoga, an ancient practice of body work and meditation. Our panel of experts will provide an overview of yoga, addressing the different forms of yoga and their health benefits.

Medically Reviewed On: June 24, 2008

Webcast Transcript

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Welcome to our webcast. I'm David Folk Thomas. If you belong to a gym, chances are you've looked through the glass at the aerobics room, and at times you've seen people in there stretching, meditating, being very quiet. What's going on in there? Chances are it's a yoga class, and if you haven't taken one before, we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what yoga is. Joining me today are a couple of experts on the subject. On my left is Dr. Ben Kligler. He's the medical director of the New Beth Israel Center for Health and Healing in New York City. Sitting next to Dr. Kligler is Deborah Matza. She's the clinical coordinator for Beth Israel Center for Cardiac and Pulmonary Health. She's also a nurse and a certified yoga instructor. Thanks for both of you joining us.

Right off the bat, what's yoga?

DR. BENJAMIN KLIGLER: Yoga is a discipline that comes from India. It's a very ancient tradition, and it basically teaches how to use positions of the body and the breath to promote health, in a nutshell. How's that?

DEBORAH MATZA: I'll just elaborate a little bit. What you talked about is there are several aspects of yoga, and you referred to what people are most familiar with, which is Hatha, which is the series of the physical poses. That's what people think of when they think of folding up into a pretzel. Then there's also breathing practices, and it also includes meditation and often deep relaxation. Some yoga styles include chanting, and there are a number of other aspects. So it's really very comprehensive, but most people, when they think of yoga, just think of the poses.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: When I think of yoga-- and it's something I have been meaning to do-- I've never had the nerve to get in there because I always start thinking, "I'm not limber enough to do yoga." What do you say to people like myself who think you have to be able to put yourself into a pretzel?

DEBORAH MATZA: That's exactly why I was mentioning that, because yoga can be adapted for really almost any individual. There are certain conditions where it's not recommended, but they're very few, and the idea is it helps to promote flexibility in the body. So if you're not limber, it's a perfect place to start. It helps to stretch and tone the muscles of the body and it helps to align the joints and the spine, and it really is excellent for flexibility.

DAVID FOLK THOMAS: Dr. Kligler, as far as whether it's good for health, can it cure what ails you?

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