As a healthcare provider, do you practice what you preach? In any specialty, you’re likely to counsel patients on the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise to improve their overall well-being. Yoga is frequently recommended because it is known to improve strength, balance, and flexibility. You too can benefit from incorporating yoga into your weekly routine.
As we age, our bodies become less flexible and thus more susceptible to injuries from everyday activities. This could include anything from swinging a golf club, bending over to pick up something, turning around to grab something from the back seat of your car, or just sleeping! A common misconception is that one must be flexible to start doing yoga. As with anything, consistent practice will lead to improvement over time. There are movements designed for beginners, intermediate, and advanced levels. “Half pigeon,” “Triangle Pose,” and “Happy Baby” are some of the many poses that promote flexibility. Yoga is a great way to maintain an active and pain-free lifestyle for years to come.
If you work in healthcare - especially dermatology – there is a good chance you spend most of your day standing. In a fast-paced clinic, there’s little time to sit and rest. This means having strong core strength is essential. A strong core improves posture and reduces strain on the spine, preventing chronic back pain. Vinyasa yoga utilizes many poses that improve both the flexibility and strength of your abdominal, oblique, lower back, and gluteal muscles.
To function optimally, we must care for both our body and mind. All types of exercise can be great stress relievers, but yoga in particular is known to calm and focus the mind. Slow movements and deep breathing not only increase blood flow and warm muscles but create a mind-body connection. Many sessions will begin and end in “Shavasana,” which involves lying flat on your back and taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. You may also set an intention for the session, such as gratitude or peace, to concentrate on throughout the practice. Each pose pairs inhalation and exhalation to the movement. Exercising, stretching, and meditating all at the same time - now that’s multitasking!
Next time you mention yoga when discussing healthy lifestyle modifications, don’t forget to sign yourself up for a class, too!
Clara Wilson, MS, PA-C, is an experienced physician assistant at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Diplomate Fellow of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants and holds a Certificate of Additional Qualifications (CAQ) in Dermatology. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Case Western Reserve University Physician Assistant Program. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, playing tennis, and traveling.
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