A study published in "Epilepsy and Behavior" in February of 2008 regards yoga and epilepsy. In the study, 18 epileptics who practiced supervised yoga for 10 weeks showed a decrease in seizure frequencies. No change was seen in a control group of 16 who practiced regular exercises. At the end of the 10-week yoga session, two epileptics were completely relieved of their seizures.
Identification
MayoClinic.com describes epilepsy as a condition were electronic currents emitted by nerve cells in a person's brain cause them to have a seizure. It takes a minimum of two unprovoked seizures to be diagnosed with epilepsy. Seizures vary from a few seconds of staring blankly at a wall to 5 minutes or more of convulsions or passing out. Treatment frequently includes medication, and less often, surgery. Yoga is a type of exercise therapy involving posture, breathing, and meditation. It is known to relax the body and mind, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
Expert Insight
In his book "Yoga: The Path to Holistic Healing," internationally acclaimed yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar illustrates 18 poses to benefit the epileptic. The illustrations show poses using bolsters, blocks, belts, chairs and the wall as props for beginners and the less flexible. Iyengar says regular practice of his recommended posture sequence will relieve pressure on the brain and entire nervous system. Iyengar is father to Iyengar yoga, a form which focuses on alignment and holding the poses for long periods.
Types
Iyengar is a popular yoga form in the United States. Power, ashtanga, and vinyasa yoga are vigorous styles that would appeal to those wanting a cardio workout. Bikram yoga is done in a hot room to facilitate flexibility. Viniyoga is a gentle, restorative yoga using props, suitable to those recovering from an illness or injury. These are just a few of the myriad yoga styles. Any style would be helpful to the epileptic, but choose with the approval of your doctor and under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor.
Considerations
Fatigue, dizziness, weight gain, loss of bone density, skin rashes, loss of coordination and speech problems are some of the minor side effects that epilepsy medications may have. Rarer and more severe are depression leading to suicidal thoughts, severe rash and inflammation of organs. The stress these medications bring to the system is manifold. Yoga can help relieve stress caused by these medications, as well as depression and weight gain, says MayoClinic.com.
Potential
While holding poses, the yoga student learns to focus on her breath. Using her breath's rhythm, she flows from one pose to the next. Focusing on the breath can eventually becomes a meditation in itself. In the great dance of life, your breath is a worthy partner; yoga can teach you how to use the breath to calm the body and the mind. For the epileptic, yoga breath can be one more tool in her arsenal. Mind-body awareness makes the epileptic feel empowered.
References
- Editorial Board "Epilepsy & Behavior"; 2008
- Mayo Clinic: Epilepsy Definition
- "Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health"; B.K.S. Iyengar; 2001
- Mayo Clinic: Yoga: Tap into the many health benefits of yoga
