Yoga blends physical, mental, and spiritual components in a way that is unique to most forms of movement. So is yoga better for health than other types of exercise? With the help of guest Alicia Kapjian-Pitt, yoga instructor and former studio manager, this episode will guide you through a brief history of yoga, explore yoga's association with health outcomes and safety profile, and discuss the issue of affordability, accessibility, and representation within both yoga and integrative medicine at large. Trust me, yoga tolisten to this one.

Find Alicia Kapjian-Pitt on Instagram at realaliciakp. To sign up for her email list and join her free yoga classes, email [email protected] or go to her class channel https://activv.me/yoga-with-AKP.

Follow the Pass the Turmeric Instagram passtheturmeric for recipes, episode updates, and more, or email [email protected] if you have any questions or comments. You can also follow me on twitter @alexcours.

During the podcast I mentioned The Broken Brain Podcast episode #90 The Science of Movement: How to Use Exercise to Defeat Depression, Anxiety, and Loneliness with Dr. Kelly McGonigal which can be found on most streaming services.

Below are the studies referenced during the episode:

Sharma, Manoj. “Yoga as an alternative and complementary approach for stress management: a systematic review.” Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine vol. 19,1 (2014): 59-67. doi:10.1177/2156587213503344

Wolever, Ruth Q et al. “Effective and viable mind-body stress reduction in the workplace: a randomized controlled trial.” Journal of occupational health psychology vol. 17,2 (2012): 246-258. doi:10.1037/a0027278

Hendriks, Tom et al. “The Effects of Yoga on Positive Mental Health Among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.” Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2017): 1-13. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0334

Dagenais, Simon et al. “A systematic review of low back pain cost of illness studies in the United States and internationally.” The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society vol. 8,1 (2008): 8-20. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2007.10.005
Li, Yunxia et al. “Effects of yoga on patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain: A PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis.” Medicine vol. 98,8 (2019): e14649. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000014649

Skelly AC et al. “Noninvasive Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.” Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 209 (Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2015-00009-I.) AHRQ Publication No 18-EHC013-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. June 2018. https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/topics/nonpharma-treatment-pain/research-2018 PMID: 30179389.

Qaseem, Amir et al. “Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians.” Annals of internal medicine vol. 166,7 (2017): 514-530. doi:10.7326/M16-2367

Patel, Neela K et al. “The Effects of Yoga on Physical Functioning and Health Related Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine vol. 18,10 (2012): 902-917. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0473

Cramer, Holger et al. “The Safety of Yoga: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” American journal of epidemiology vol. 182,4 (2015): 281-93. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv071

Park, Crystal L et al. “Who practices yoga? A systematic review of demographic, health-related, and psychosocial factors associated with yoga practice.” J Behav Med vol 38 (

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