yoga and its importance in daily life and

Yoga meditation

1. C omplementary and alternative therapies in psychiatry

2. A paradigm shift is occuring within our society wherein a growing number of people are adopting an expanded view of health which embraces a holistic perspective rather than purely allopathic one. As a result ,many are seeking and using a variety of complementary and alternative healing modalities

3. In an efforts to promote primary healthcare,the WHO recommended in 1978 that traditional ( alternative) medicine be promoted ,developed and integrated wherever possible with modern,scientific medicine,stressing the necessity to ensure respect , recoginition and collaborationamong practitioners of various system concerned.

4. The national center for complementary and alternative medicine defines complementary and alternative medicine as a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems,practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.

5. Complementary therapies are those used in conjuction with conventional medical practices. Alternative therapies are those that are used instead of conventional medicine .

6. Yoga uses a combinition of physical postures ( Asanas ),breathing techniques ( pranayams ) and meditation to promote relaxation and enhance the flow of vital energy called pranam .