People who have HIV/AIDS often live with feelings of loneliness, depression and hopelessness. People living with HIV/AIDS find that the yogic techniques of asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), relaxation and meditation help decrease these feelings. Practicing yoga also fosters a sense of connection with the innermost self of HIV/AIDS survivors.
Significance
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 800,000 Americans lived with HIV/AIDS in 2009. The epidemic is spreading among minority populations in particular, with half of newly infected people being younger than 25 years old. Yoga Journal reports that more than 70 percent of people living with the disease in the United States have tried some form of alternative therapy to enhance their medical treatments, and yoga is one of the most popular of these methods.
Expert Insight
Dr. Jon Kaiser, author of "Healing HIV: How to Rebuild Your Immune System" and a San Francisco HIV specialist, reports that healing does not come from small bottles. Kaiser rather recommends that HIV/AIDS sufferers take some time every day to practice deep relaxation to quiet their minds, reduce stress and enhance their breathing and blood circulation. Kaiser states that daily practice can help support their immune system in conjunction with a thorough and comprehensive HIV treatment program.
Benefits
There are many benefits for people living with HIV/AIDS who practice yoga. According to Yoga Journal, the regular practice of yoga not only helps alleviate depression and loneliness in this population, but actually slows disease progression, prevents the spread of the virus and improves body image and overall mental health. Yoga also helps improve many of the ailments HIV/AIDS sufferers live with, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood sugar, chronic pain, heart disease, anxiety, substance abuse and headaches.
Effects
People who live with HIV/AIDS experience many side effects in their medical treatments. These side effects include high cholesterol, liver dysfunction, diarrhea, neuropathy, nausea, digestive problems, diabetes and fat redistribution disorders. Yoga additionally benefits HIV/AIDS sufferers by helping them better handle these negative side effects.
Types of Poses
Yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar recommends that people living with HIV/AIDS practice inversions and back-bending exercises to heal from the disease. He specifically recommends doing headstand, shoulderstand, handstand, bridge pose, wheel pose and bow pose.
Considerations
People living with HIV/AIDS who wish to start a yoga practice should consult their doctor before doing so. It is also important to realize that though yoga cannot provide the same benefits as certain medications can for HIV/AIDS, it is a valuable practice to accompany medication.
References
- Yoga Journal: Health, Hope and HIV
- Centers for Disease Control: Basic Statistics
- "Healing HIV: How to Rebuild Your Immune System"; Kaiser, Jon; 1998
