Social Prescribing is increasingly recognised as a positive approach within healthcare, now integrated into healthcare systems in over 30 countries. In the UK it formally begun in 2019.
6-years in, is it making a difference? Have you been prescribed yoga?
Studies show that social prescribing can reduce GP visits by up to 28% and lower reliance on emergency care (The King’s Fund, 2020).
The approach aims to connect individuals to non-medical and community interventions. This can be things like walking groups, community art projects, gardening initiatives, and yoga.
Their methods considers that physical, psychological, and social factors all shape well-being. Their work bridges clinical and holistic wellbeing fields.
Imagine having yoga in hospitals, schools, nursing homes and mental health wards as standard.
Imagine being prescribed yoga – will we get there in the UK?
There is no direct investment. However, social prescribing is a strong move towards a broader understanding of what holistically treating health looks like, in public health.
Maybe funding will trickle down to organisations like Shanti Bee in Newcastle, eventually.
Evidencing non-medical interventions like yoga work, is difficult.
The impact is often broad, across an individual’s life and the results are subjective, ‘improved mental well-being’ or ‘stress reduction’ are difficult to quantify and compare.
There are also such a wide range of yoga styles; more demanding practices like Ashtanga to gentler forms like Restorative or Yoga Therapy – so it’s difficult to generalize findings.
What we do know that there is no one fix, so why would we claim so.
So how do we measure the effectiveness of yoga, when we know a rounded multi-disciplinary approach is needed for sustained wellness.
How can yoga help build an equitable society?
Yoga does provide a framework for understanding the aspects of self and gives guidance in how to find balance.
At its heart yoga embraces inclusivity – making it a powerful tool for society.
We often reference the physical and mental benefits of yoga, but there is much more to discuss, understand and promote.
An ancient yogic philosophy called Panchakosha – provides an inclusive way of working with individuals. These teachings of a system called Koshas, help yoga students understand the importance of balance across five ‘dimensions’ termed as the panch koshas. The term panch means five and kosha means sheath.
A social prescriber might use a STAR system to measure the impact of support. A Yoga practitioner offering yoga therapeutically, might refer to their studies of the Koshas.
These foundational teachings of yoga impart the practice of self-awareness, spiritual knowledge, and philosophical insight, drawing upon the teachings of ancient sacred Hindu texts.
While some institutions have made steps towards integrating yoga, with positive results, progress is slow, and many people cannot easily access the services they need to thrive.
Holistic education is not mainstream enough to encourage the ancient practices that could help people prosper and be as well as they possibly can in all their layers of self.
Sweden known for its commitment to accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities has integrated yoga into its health services since 2010.
The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health has advocated for its use in treating PTSD, anxiety, and addiction. Australia is also noted for its forward-thinking approach to yoga in healthcare.
What does yoga do for you?
Yoga provides us with improved mobility, pain management, flexibility and helps tone and strengthen major internal organs and nerves. It benefits the musculoskeletal, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular and the endocrine system!
Yoga directly tones and strengthens our vagus nerve, part of the nervous system, supporting emotional resilience. This nerve supports essential involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion, helping to calm the body playing a significant role in social interactions.
Yoga supports self-regulation. Practices like mindful breathing, focused postures, and meditation enhances emotional awareness, helping us to reduce the stress response many of us are faced with daily.
The practices help us foster a stronger sense of self-worth, confidence and connection. A welcoming and non-judgmental space in a regular yoga class helps us connect to a greater awareness of inclusivity and belonging.
Practically, yoga doesn’t just help the mind, the body, our energy levels, but it taps into our internal wisdom.
Shanti Bee supports the work of Link Workers in our community.
On May 9th we are hosting a connection day, for Link workers and health professionals in Newcastle, to discuss the effectiveness of group-based activities, patterns that may hinder self-care or reinforce isolation to inform our own practices and ways of working.
Shanti Bee provides essential holistic health services to promote healing and management of health conditions. Activities promote preventative care, leading to improved quality of life.
We hope to support the increase of an interdisciplinary approach, social prescribing and hope for enhanced clinical understanding within yoga and yoga therapy.