Harnessing the Health Promoting Benefits of Yoga: A Promising Opportunity for Health Educators

ABSTRACT

In tandem with the popularization of yoga, ongoing research suggests a meaningful role for yoga practice in relation to the achievement of numerous health education objectives in a variety of settings among diverse populations. In particular, yoga shows promise as an adjunctive intervention for preventing and/or managing a wide range of chronic illnesses. Interest in yoga among health education professionals is high, but the utilization of yoga as a health education tool can be challenging given multiple yoga styles and traditions. This overview was developed to assist health educators in making informed decisions as they consider incorporating yoga into health education practice. If done effectively, yoga may be a useful health education tool for preventing or delaying the onset of major chronic illness and promoting wellness across multiple health dimensions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.