Acu-yoga is a cross between yoga and acupressure that can be used to relieve stress and pain. This type of bodywork is a wonderful self-care technique that anyone can use. It combines yoga postures with the stimulation of acupressure points to relax the body and relieve pain.
As with other therapies based on ideas in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the concept behind it is that the body contains a life force or life energy. This energy is called qi (chi), ki, or prana. Qi flows through the body on pathways called meridians. When qi is flowing freely through those meridians you are healthy. When qi is blocked along the path of the meridian, you have illness or dysfunction. Acupressure works to unblock qi. Find out more about acupressure.
You can think of the flow of qi through the body as something simular to the flow of a river or stream. If it gets blocked in one area the qi gets backed up in the body. This causes a deficiency in one area and an over abundance in another area. It is much like water would behave if blocked by a dam. Putting pressure on certain points will help unblock the qi allowing it to flow freely.
Yoga is a discipline started in India that uses mediation, breathing exercises and physical exercises to achieve liberation. This powerful mediative exercise can be modified to suit people of all different physical levels.
The yoga postures used in this therapy natural stimulate some acupressure points. The practitioner also stimulates additional acupressure points with their fingers while doing the yoga postures. This helps relax the muscles and ease stress. Combining breathing exercises with that causes it to work even better.
Acu-yoga increases circulation and loosens muscles. You'll find that it increases your flexibility making it easier to move around in general. It can be used to help treat the following conditions:
colds
headaches
menstruation pain
back tension
shoulder tension
neck tension
high blood pressure
constipation
depression
Here's a video example of what this therapy is like.
