Recovery from an eating disorder is typically multi-faceted, involving psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, medical supervision and safe exercise. Yoga may be helpful for some individuals with eating disorders and provide healthy physical and emotional effects. Before starting any yoga practice, especially Bikram yoga, talk with your treatment team to ensure it is safe for you.
Bikram Yoga
There are many different types of yoga, including Bikram yoga, which may also be called hot yoga. Bikram yoga consists of 26 asanas, or postures, done in a room that is heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Sohot Bikram Yoga, this is to aid in loosening the joints and warm your muscles, which helps improve flexibility. There are also two breathing exercises that are performed in Bikram yoga, and a typical class includes going through these 26 asanas twice, for a 90-minute workout.
Eating Disorders
Although the best known eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia, there is another category called Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or EDNOS, says the National Institute of Mental Health, known as NIMH. EDNOS includes binge-eating disorder. An eating disorder is characterized by significant changes in eating behavior, like overeating to extremes or eating minimal amounts of food. A disturbance in body image or intense fear of gaining weight may be present, says NIMH. Eating disorders can be serious, and even fatal. These are treatable conditions and recovery is possible with the help of a treatment team made up of professionals like doctors, nurses, therapists and nutritionists.
Yoga's Effect on Eating Disorders
A 2010 study by published in the "Journal of Adolescent Health," found that eating disorder outpatients in the yoga group had decreases in eating disorder symptoms when compared with outpatients who did not participate in yoga. Another study published in the journal "Qualitative Health Research" in 2009 found that women with binge-eating disorder reported eating less, making better food choices and having a more positive body image after a 12-week yoga program. While studies touting the benefits of yoga for eating disorders exists, more research needs to be done to draw a definitive conclusion.
Considerations
The temperature and physical demands of Bikram yoga may not be for individuals with eating disorders that have just begun recovery. Altered physiology like low blood pressure or imbalanced electrolytes can be dangerous and not conducive to practicing yoga. Individuals with binge-eating disorder may not be comfortable in such a hot room and may be self-conscious. If you have an eating disorder, talk with your treatment team about whether Bikram yoga is safe and appropriate for you before participating.
References
- Sohot Bikram Yoga; Bikram Yoga Information; 2010
- National Institute of Mental Health; Eating Disorders; August 2010
- "Journal of Adolescent Health"; Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Yoga in the Treatment of Eating Disorders; TR Carei et al; 2010
- "Qualitative Health Research"; Overeating is Not About the Food: Women Describe Their Experience of a Yoga Treatment Program for Binge Eating; S McIver et al; 2009
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