One of the most surprising uses of yoga is to help treat debilitating diseases like cancer or diabetes.  While it cannot act as a cure, it can certainly help treat the symptoms, provide relaxation, and a temporary escape from these life-threatening conditions.  Yoga for diabetes was particularly interesting to me, as I have an uncle who passed away due to complications with juvenile diabetes.

In researching this topic, I found that in 1982, a study was performed by Dr. Robin Monro which indicates that practicing yoga for 30 minutes a day would help reduce blood glucose levels significantly in most patients if done daily for at least one month at a time.

The participants in this study were given only a bare minimum of training, two 90-minute sessions with a professional trainer, and then were instructed to follow up with their own shortened version of the workout plan every day.  Training also included optional meditation and stretching techniques designed to help encourage relaxation and flexibility.

After one month, studies showed that each of the participants who successfully followed up with their workout plan noticed significantly reduced blood glucose levels, while their counterparts in the study all noticed slightly higher levels of blood sugar.  Of the twelve individuals participating in the yoga exercises, three significantly reduced their medications after twelve weeks.

The exercises that were used were specifically chosen in order to maximize the efficacy of the workout.  The bow, abdominal breathing techniques, and the spinal twist were among the exercises taught, though participants were encouraged to try other techniques as well.

The benefits to doing exercise such as yoga are well-documented, and many people who are skeptical of the efficacy of yoga will point to this study and claim that any kind of exercise would have gotten similar results.  In response to this, I can only say that the exercises and techniques which were taught to the participants in this study are not particularly stressful, and would hardly qualify as a workout for most.  The main benefit to doing this kind of yoga is to reduce stress, increase flexibility and body awareness, and improve circulation.