I am delighted to participate in my first AMA (American Medical Association) approved CME (Continuing Medical Education) program on Yoga Therapy. This is a big deal! It means that a well established, time-honored medical society acknowledges the health benefits of yoga therapy. This is the 7th such meeting designed for doctors and healthcare professionals. It is becoming increasingly clear to many in our profession that most Western countries do not have a Health Care system, but a disease care system, with little emphasis on long-term management or prevention. This has unfortunately led to the progression of almost all disease at an alarming rate. Yoga can help manage many chronic illnesses and more importantly can prevent many disease states. And there is proof.
The meeting’s curriculum involves hours of learning/reviewing the results of hundreds of published studies on the benefits of yoga and yoga therapy in multiple diseases as well as the benefits of yoga in the prevention of illness. We are also learning the tools necessary to wisely guide our patients – awareness, mindfulness, asanas (postures), breathing and meditation. It is an honor to be in the presence of leaders in this field and doctors (orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, family practitioners, pediatricians) who want to change (acknowledge that we need to change) the emphasis from disease to Health.
Jai Ma